(1)Section 16 (functions of sheriff principal with respect to duties and leave of absence of sheriffs) of the 1971 Act is amended as follows.
(2)In subsection (2)—
(a)after “absence” insert “for the purpose of holidays”,
(b)the words from “(other” to “ill-health)” are repealed, and
(c)for “Secretary of State” substitute “Lord President of the Court of Session”.
(3)After subsection (2) insert—
“(2A)The sheriff principal of any sheriffdom may approve such leave of absence for any other purpose for any sheriff appointed for that sheriffdom as appears to the sheriff principal to be proper.”.
(4)In subsection (3), for “subsection (2)” substitute “subsections (2) and (2A)”.