(1)The following persons must uphold the independence of the members of the Scottish Tribunals—
(a)the First Minister,
(b)the Lord Advocate,
(c)the Scottish Ministers,
(d)members of the Scottish Parliament,
(e)all other persons with responsibility for matters relating to—
(i)the members of the Scottish Tribunals, or
(ii)the administration of justice,
where that responsibility is to be discharged only in or as regards Scotland.
(2)In particular, the First Minister, the Lord Advocate and the Scottish Ministers—
(a)must not seek to influence particular decisions of the members of the Scottish Tribunals through any special access to the members, and
(b)must have regard to the need for the members to have the support necessary to enable them to carry out their functions.