Historic Environment Scotland Act 2014

General functions

2 Functions of Historic Environment Scotland

(1) Historic Environment Scotland has the general function of investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland’s historic environment.

(2) In exercising its general function, Historic Environment Scotland has the following particular functions—

(a) identifying and recording the historic environment,

(b) understanding and interpreting the historic environment,

(c) learning about, and educating others about, the historic environment,

(d) protecting and managing the historic environment,

(e) conserving and enhancing the historic environment.

(3) Historic Environment Scotland also has the function of managing its collections as a national resource for reference, study and research.

(4) In exercising that function, Historic Environment Scotland has the following particular functions—

(a) preserving, conserving and developing its collections,

(b) making the collections accessible to the public and to persons wishing to carry out study and research,

(c) exhibiting and interpreting objects in the collections.

(5) Historic Environment Scotland, in exercising its functions, is to do so with a view to—

(a) encouraging education and research,

(b) promoting and contributing to understanding and enjoyment of the historic environment and of its collections,

(c) promoting the diversity of persons accessing the historic environment and its collections,

(d) offering and promoting leadership in relation to the historic environment,

(e) working in collaboration with other persons (whether in partnership or in other ways),

(f) contributing, as appropriate, to the development and delivery of policies and strategies in relation to the historic environment.

(6) Historic Environment Scotland may support and assist any other person exercising functions in relation to the historic environment of a similar nature to its functions.

(7) Support and assistance under subsection (6) may take the form of financial support and assistance.

(8) In exercising its functions, Historic Environment Scotland must have regard—

(a) to any relevant policy or strategy published by the Scottish Ministers, and

(b) as may be appropriate in the circumstances, to the interests of local communities.