Part 1 SAccess to information held by Scottish public authorities

Right to informationS

5 Further power to designate Scottish public authoritiesS

(1)The Scottish Ministers may by order designate as a Scottish public authority for the purposes of this Act any person mentioned in subsection (2) who—

(a)is neither for the time being listed in schedule 1 nor capable of being added to that schedule by order under section 4(1); and

(b)is neither a public body nor the holder of any public office.

(2)The persons are those who either—

(a)appear to the Scottish Ministers to exercise functions of a public nature; or

(b)are providing, under a contract made with a Scottish public authority, any service whose provision is a function of that authority.

(3)An order under subsection (1) may designate a specified person or persons falling within a specified description.

(4)An order under subsection (1) made by virtue of—

(a)subsection (2)(a) must specify the functions of a public nature which appear to be exercised;

(b)subsection (2)(b) must specify the service being provided.

[F1(5)Before making an order under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must—

(a)consult—

(i)every person to whom the order relates, or

(ii)persons appearing to them to represent such persons, and

(b)also consult such other persons as they consider appropriate.]