(1)This section, which is without prejudice to section 8 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000 (c. 7) (power to modify legislation), applies to warrants to search granted under section 134(1) of the 1995 Act (that is to say, where incidental to proceedings by complaint or although no subsequent proceedings by complaint may follow).
(2)Subject to subsections (1) and (4), the Scottish Ministers may, in relation to warrants to which this section applies, by order modify—
(a)any rule of law; or
(b)the practice and procedure in relation to criminal proceedings,
in such manner as they think fit so as to authorise or facilitate the use of electronic communications or electronic storage (instead of other forms of communication or storage) for any purpose mentioned in subsection (3).
(3)Those purposes are (in relation to the rule of law or the practice and procedure) the purposes mentioned (in relation to the provisions which may be modified under subsection (1) of section 8 of that Act of 2000) in any of paragraphs (a) to (f) of subsection (2) of that section.
(4)The Scottish Ministers are not to make an order under subsection (2) authorising the use of electronic communications or electronic storage for any purpose unless they consider that the authorisation is such that the extent (if any) to which records of things done for that purpose will be available will be no less satisfactory in cases where use is made of electronic communications or electronic storage than in other cases.
(5)Subsections (4) to (6) and (8) of section 8 and (5) and (6) of section 9 of that Act of 2000 apply in relation to an order made under subsection (2) as they apply in relation to an order made under subsection (1) of the said section 8.
(6)Expressions used in this section and in that Act of 2000 have the same meanings in this section as in that Act.