Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Act 2022

Part 1 Public health protection

Chapter 1 Modifications of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008

1 Public health protection measures

(1) The Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 is modified as follows.

(2) After section 86 insert—

“Part 5A Public health protection measures

Public health protection regulations

86A Public health protection regulations

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision for the purpose of preventing, protecting against, controlling or providing a public health response to the incidence or spread of infection or contamination in Scotland (whether from risks originating there or elsewhere).

(2) In subsection (1)—

(a) reference to infection or contamination is a reference to infection or contamination which presents or could present significant harm to human health,

(b) reference to the spread of contamination includes a reference to the spread of any source of contamination.

(3) The power in subsection (1) may be exercised—

(a) in relation to infection or contamination generally or in relation to particular forms of infection or contamination, and

(b) so as to make provision of a general nature, to make contingent provision or to make specific provision in response to particular circumstances.

(4) Regulations under subsection (1) may in particular include provision directly or indirectly imposing restrictions or requirements on or in relation to persons, things or premises in the event of, or in response to, a threat to public health (but see sections 86D and 86E).

(5) The restrictions or requirements mentioned in subsection (4) include, for example—

(a) a requirement that a pupil (within the meaning given by section 135(1) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980) is to be kept away from school,

(b) a prohibition or restriction relating to the holding of an event or gathering,

(c) a restriction or requirement relating to the handling, transport, burial or cremation of dead bodies or the handling, transport or disposal of human remains, and

(d) a special restriction or requirement (see section 86G).

86B Public health protection regulations: public health declarations

(1) Regulations under section 86A(1) which are responding to a particular infection or contamination may be made only when a public health declaration under this section has effect.

(2) A public health declaration means a declaration by the Scottish Ministers that they consider that—

(a) an infectious disease or contaminant constitutes or may constitute a danger to human health, and

(b) the making of regulations under section 86A(1) may be a way of protecting against that danger.

(3) Before making a public health declaration, the Scottish Ministers must consult the Chief Medical Officer of the Scottish Administration or another person designated for the purposes of this section by the Scottish Ministers.

(4) A public health declaration has effect if—

(a) it is made by the Scottish Ministers,

(b) either—

(i) it is approved in accordance with subsection (6), or

(ii) a statement under section 86C(1) is made, and

(c) it has not ceased to have effect in accordance with subsection (10).

(5) The Scottish Ministers must publish a public health declaration in such manner as they consider appropriate.

(6) A public health declaration is approved if—

(a) the Scottish Ministers lay a copy of the declaration before the Scottish Parliament,

(b) a member of the Scottish Government lodges a motion that the declaration be approved, and

(c) the Parliament agrees to the motion.

(7) A motion under subsection (6)(b) may not be amended.

(8) The Scottish Ministers must publish notice of the approval of a public health declaration and the time at which the declaration has effect, in such manner as they consider appropriate.

(9) If, during the period that a public health declaration has effect, the Scottish Ministers consider that paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) no longer apply, they must—

(a) revoke the declaration,

(b) lay notice of revocation before the Scottish Parliament, and

(c) publish notice of revocation in such manner as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

(10) A public health declaration ceases to have effect immediately after it is revoked.

(11) A public health declaration’s ceasing to have effect neither—

(a) affects anything done before the declaration ceased to have effect, nor

(b) prevents the making of regulations revoking regulations made during the period that the declaration had effect.

86C Public health protection regulations: further provision about public health declarations

(1) If the Scottish Ministers consider that it is not practicable for a public health declaration to be approved in accordance with section 86B(6), they may make a statement explaining why.

(2) An example of when it may not be practicable for a public health declaration to be approved in accordance with section 86B(6) is if the Scottish Parliament is dissolved.

(3) When a statement under subsection (1) is made, the Scottish Ministers must—

(a) lay a copy of the public health declaration and the statement before the Scottish Parliament, and

(b) publish the statement in such manner as they consider appropriate.

(4) If a statement under subsection (1) is made—

(a) the public health declaration has effect immediately after the declaration is made, and

(b) the declaration ceases to have effect at the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which it is made unless before the end of that period it is approved by the Scottish Parliament on a motion by a member of the Scottish Government (if it has not already ceased to have effect under subsection (5)).

(5) If, on any day during that period of 28 days, the Parliament comes to a decision not to approve the public health declaration, the declaration ceases to have effect immediately after the decision is made.

(6) In calculating the period of 28 days mentioned in subsections (4) and (5), no account is to be taken of any time during which the Scottish Parliament is—

(a) in recess for more than 4 days, or

(b) dissolved.

(7) A motion under subsection (4)(b) may not be amended.

86D Limits on use of power: regulations directly imposing restrictions or requirements

(1) Regulations under section 86A(1) may not impose a restriction or requirement by virtue of section 86A(4) unless the Scottish Ministers consider, when making the regulations, that the restriction or requirement is proportionate to what is sought to be achieved by imposing it.

(2) Regulations under section 86A(1) may not impose a restriction or requirement mentioned in section 86G(2)(a), (b), (c) or (d).

(3) For the purpose of this section, the regulations “impose” a restriction or requirement if the restriction or requirement is imposed directly by the regulations.

86E Limits on use of power: regulations indirectly imposing restrictions or requirements

(1) Regulations under section 86A(1) may not enable the imposition of a restriction or requirement by virtue of section 86A(4) unless the regulations provide that a decision to impose such a restriction or requirement may only be taken if the person taking it considers, when taking the decision, that the restriction or requirement is proportionate to what is sought to be achieved by imposing it.

(2) Regulations under section 86A(1) may not enable the imposition of a special restriction or requirement unless—

(a) the regulations are made in response to a serious and imminent threat to public health, or

(b) the imposition of the special restriction or requirement is expressed to be contingent on there being such a threat at the time when it is imposed.

(3) For the purpose of this section, the regulations “enable the imposition of” a restriction or requirement if the restriction or requirement is imposed by virtue of a decision taken under the regulations by the Scottish Ministers, a local authority, a health board or other person.

86F Exclusion of requirement to undergo medical treatment

(1) Regulations under section 86A(1) may not include provision requiring a person to undergo medical treatment.

(2) “Medical treatment” includes vaccination and other prophylactic treatment.

86G Special restrictions and requirements

(1) In this Part, a “special restriction or requirement” means a restriction or requirement mentioned in subsections (2) to (5).

(2) In relation to a person, the restriction or requirement referred to in subsection (1) is that the person—

(a) submit to medical examination,

(b) be removed to a hospital or other suitable establishment,

(c) be detained in a hospital or other suitable establishment,

(d) be kept in quarantine (within the meaning of section 39(4)),

(e) be disinfected or decontaminated,

(f) wear protective clothing,

(g) provide information or answer questions about the person’s health or other circumstances,

(h) has the person’s health monitored and the results reported,

(i) attend training or advice sessions on how to reduce the risk of infecting or contaminating others,

(j) be subject to restrictions as to where the person may go or with whom the person has contact,

(k) abstain from working or trading.

(3) Where regulations enable the imposition of a requirement to submit to medical examination, section 35 applies to that examination in the same way as it applies to an examination authorised by virtue of an order under section 34(1).

(4) In relation to a thing, the restriction or requirement referred to in subsection (1) is—

(a) that the thing be seized or detained,

(b) that the thing be kept in quarantine,

(c) that the thing be disinfected or decontaminated,

(d) that the vector, agent or source of any infection or contamination be removed,

(e) in the case of a dead body, that the body be buried or cremated,

(f) in any other case, that the thing be destroyed or disposed of.

(5) In relation to premises, the restriction or requirement referred to in subsection (1) is—

(a) that the premises be closed,

(b) that, in the case of a vehicle or movable structure, the premises be detained,

(c) that the premises be disinfected or decontaminated,

(d) that the vector, agent or source of any infection or contamination be removed,

(e) that, in the case of a building, structure, mobile home or vehicle, the premises be destroyed.

86H Further provision on content of regulations

(1) This section makes further provision about regulations under section 86A(1).

(2) The regulations may—

(a) confer functions on local authorities, health boards and other persons,

(b) make different provision for different areas,

(c) create offences,

(d) modify any enactment (including this Act),

(e) enable a court to order a person convicted of any offence under the regulations to take or pay for remedial action in appropriate circumstances,

(f) provide for the carrying out and enforcement of restrictions and requirements imposed by virtue of the regulations,

(g) provide for appeals from and reviews of restrictions and requirements imposed by virtue of the regulations,

(h) permit or prohibit the levying of charges,

(i) permit or require the payment of incentive payments and expenses,

(j) permit the payment of compensation,

(k) provide for the resolution of disputes.

(3) The maximum penalties that may be imposed in relation to offences created under the regulations are—

(a) on summary conviction, imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both),

(b) on conviction on indictment, imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or a fine (or both).

(4) The regulations must provide for a right of appeal to the sheriff against any decision taken under the regulations by virtue of which a special restriction or requirement is imposed on or in relation to a person, thing or premises.

86I Review of regulations

(1) So long as regulations under section 86A(1) which make provision mentioned in section 86A(4) remain in effect, the Scottish Ministers must review the regulations—

(a) before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the date on which the regulations came into force, and

(b) before the end of each subsequent period of 21 days.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply where the regulations make only provision of a general nature or contingent provision.

(3) Subsection (4) applies where regulations under section 86A(1)—

(a) enable a special restriction or requirement to be imposed by virtue of a decision taken under the regulations, and

(b) the restriction or requirement is capable of remaining in force in relation to any person, thing or premises for more than a specified period.

(4) The regulations must provide that a specified person may require the continuation of the restriction or requirement to be reviewed in accordance with the regulations at specified intervals by a person determined in accordance with the regulations.

(5) In relation to a special restriction or requirement mentioned in section 86G(2)(c) or (d)—

(a) the period specified by virtue of subsection (3)(b) and the intervals specified by virtue of subsection (4) must be 21 days or less, and

(b) the regulations must require the continuation of the restriction or requirement to be reviewed without an application being made.

(6) In this section, “specified” means specified in the regulations.

Public health monitoring measures

86J Public health monitoring measures

The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision conferring on local authorities, health boards or other persons functions in relation to the monitoring of public health risks.”.

(3) In section 122 (regulations and orders)—

(a) in subsection (5), after “25(3),” insert “86A(1),”,

(b) in subsection (6)—

(i) after “25(3)” insert “, 86A(1)”,

(ii) after “urgently” insert “(but see subsection (11))”,

(c) after subsection (10) insert—

“(11) Subsection (6) does not apply to regulations under section 86A(1) which make provision modifying an Act of the Scottish Parliament or an Act of Parliament.

(12) Where subsection (6) applies to regulations made under section 86A(1)—

(a) the Scottish Ministers must explain why they consider that the regulations need to be made urgently, and

(b) the regulations must include provision for them to expire on a day specified in the regulations.

(13) Subsection (12)(b) does not apply where the regulations amend regulations in which the provision mentioned in subsection (12)(b) has already been included.”.

2 International travel regulations

(1) The Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 94 (international travel)—

(a) in subsection (1)(a)(ii)—

(i) after “agreements” insert “or arrangements”,

(ii) after “contamination” insert “(including any recommendations issued under such agreements or arrangements)”,

(b) in subsection (2)—

(i) in paragraph (e), after sub-paragraph (iii) insert—

“(iv) kept in quarantine,”,

(ii) after paragraph (i) insert—

“(ia) enabling a court to order a person convicted of any offence under the regulations to take or pay for remedial action in appropriate circumstances,

(ib) providing for the carrying out and enforcement of restrictions and requirements imposed by virtue of the regulations,

(ic) providing for appeals from and reviews of restrictions and requirements imposed by virtue of the regulations,

(id) permitting or requiring the payment of incentive payments or expenses,

(ie) permitting the payment of compensation,

(if) providing for the resolution of disputes,”,

(iii) in paragraph (j), after “permitting” insert “or prohibiting”,

(c) after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) Regulations under subsection (1) may not include provision requiring persons to undergo medical treatment.

(2B) In subsection (2A), “medical treatment” includes vaccination and other prophylactic treatment.”.

3 Meaning of “premises”

(1) The Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 123 (meaning of “premises”)—

(a) in the definition of “premises”, in paragraph (b)—

(i) before sub-paragraph (i) insert—

“(zi) a tent or other moveable structure,”,

(ii) after sub-paragraph (i), the word “and” is repealed,

(iii) after sub-paragraph (ii) insert “, and

“(iii) an offshore installation (within the meaning given by regulation 3 of the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/738)).”,

(b) in the definition of “mobile home”—

(i) for “means” substitute “includes”,

(ii) for “, houseboat or other moveable structure” substitute “or houseboat”.

Chapter 2 Arrangements for vaccination and immunisation

4 Arrangements for vaccination and immunisation

(1) The National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 is modified by subsection (2).

(2) In section 40 (vaccination and immunisation)—

(a) for subsection (1) substitute—

“(1) The Scottish Ministers may make arrangements for the vaccination or immunisation of persons against any disease.”,

(b) in subsection (3)—

(i) for “Secretary of State” substitute “Scottish Ministers”,

(ii) for “medical practitioners” substitute “persons”.

(3) The Functions of Health Boards (Scotland) Order 1991 (S.I. 1991/570) is modified by subsection (4).

(4) In article 4 (functions to be exercised by Health Boards), for paragraph (g) substitute— 

“(g) the power of the Scottish Ministers under section 40 to make arrangements for the vaccination or immunisation of persons against any disease and to supply vaccines, sera or other preparations for such vaccination or immunisation;”.

Part 2 Education

Chapter 1 Educational establishments etc.

5 Interpretation of Chapter

(1) In this Chapter—

• “the 1980 Act” means the Education (Scotland) Act 1980,

• “the 2005 Act” means the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005,

• “child minder” has the meaning given by paragraph 12 of schedule 12 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010,

• “early learning and childcare” has the meaning given by section 46 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014,

• “education” includes early learning and childcare, school education, further education and higher education,

• “education authority,” “grant-aided school”, “independent school”, “public school”, “school” and “school education” have the meanings given by section 135(1) of the 1980 Act,

• “educational establishment”—

  (a)

  means—

  (i)

  a school,

  (ii)

  an education and training establishment approved by the Scottish Qualifications Authority under section 2 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1996 as suitable for presenting persons for SQA qualifications,

  (iii)

  a further education institution,

  (iv)

  a higher education institution, and

  (b)

  is also to be construed in accordance with subsections (3) and (4) of this section,

• “further education” has the meaning given by section 6 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992,

• “further education institution” means—

  (a)

  a body listed under the heading “Institutions formerly eligible for funding by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council” or under the heading “Other institutions” in schedule 2 of the 2005 Act,

  (b)

  a college of further education which is assigned to a regional strategic body by an order made under section 7C(1) of the 2005 Act,

• “governing body” has the meaning given by section 35(2) of the 2005 Act,

• “higher education” has the meaning given by section 38 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992,

• “higher education institution” means—

  (a)

  a body listed under the heading “Institutions formerly eligible for funding by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council” or under the heading “Other institutions” in schedule 2 of the 2005 Act,

  (b)

  a person who provides a course of higher education designated by the Scottish Ministers under regulation 4(9) of the Education (Student Loans) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (S.S.I. 2007/154) for the purposes of regulation 3(2) of those Regulations,

• “managers”, in relation to a grant-aided school, has the meaning given by section 135(1) of the 1980 Act,

• “out of school care” means care which is provided—

  (a)

  to children who are in attendance at a school,

  (b)

  outside school hours or during school holidays, and

  (c)

  by a child minder or a service for the day care of children within the meaning given by paragraph 13 of schedule 12 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010,

• “proprietor”, in relation to an independent school, has the meaning given by section 135(1) of the 1980 Act,

• “protecting public health” has the meaning given by section 1(5) of the Public Health etc. Scotland Act 2008.

(2) In this Chapter, “relevant operator”—

(a) in relation to a school, means—

(i) where the school is a public school, the education authority by which it is managed,

(ii) where the school is an independent school, the proprietor,

(iii) where the school is a grant-aided school, the managers,

(b) in relation to an education and training establishment approved by the Scottish Qualifications Authority under section 2 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1996 as suitable for presenting persons for SQA qualifications, means the person who has responsibility for the management of the establishment,

(c) in relation to a further education institution or a higher education institution, means the governing body of the institution.

(3) Where out of school care is provided by a person in a school, “relevant operator” also includes such a person.

(4) Where school education, early learning and childcare or out of school care is provided by a person in premises other than a school—

(a) “relevant operator” also includes such a person, and

(b) references to “educational establishment” in this Chapter are to be read as if they were references to such premises.

6 Duty to have regard to public health advice

(1) A relevant authority must have regard to any advice from the Chief Medical Officer of the Scottish Administration, or from another person designated for the purposes of this section by the Scottish Ministers, about protecting public health.

(2) In subsection (1), “relevant authority” means—

(a) a relevant operator of an educational establishment,

(b) a relevant manager of a school boarding establishment (within the meaning given by section 9(6)),

(c) a relevant manager of student accommodation premises (within the meaning given by section 10(6)).

7 Guidance on public health measures

(1) A relevant authority must have regard to any guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers about protecting public health and ensuring the continuity of education.

(2) The Scottish Ministers must publish any guidance issued under subsection (1).

(3) In subsection (1), “relevant authority” has the meaning given by section 6(2).

8 Regulations on continuing operation of educational establishments

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision relating to the continuing operation of an educational establishment for a specified period.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may make provision applying to—

(a) the relevant operator of one or more named educational establishments,

(b) the relevant operators of all educational establishments,

(c) the relevant operators of a particular description of educational establishment.

(3) Where regulations under subsection (1) apply to the relevant operator of a further education institution or higher education institution, they may not make provision relating to any non-educational functions of the operator.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), “non-educational functions”—

(a) are functions of the operator which do not relate solely to the teaching and delivery of further education or higher education, but

(b) exclude any additional functions conferred on the operator by virtue of subsection (7)(a)(iii) relating to the use of the operator’s premises for the purpose of protecting public health.

(5) Before making regulations under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers—

(a) must have regard to any advice from the Chief Medical Officer of the Scottish Administration about protecting public health (or, as the case may be, from another person designated for the purposes of this section by the Scottish Ministers), and

(b) must be satisfied, in view of that advice, that making the regulations is a necessary and proportionate action for or in connection with the continued provision of education.

(6) Regulations under subsection (1) may provide that any failure to comply with a duty or time limit imposed under any enactment or rule of law relating to education is to be disregarded to the extent that the failure would be attributable to the regulations.

(7) Regulations under subsection (1) may—

(a) confer additional functions on a relevant operator relating to—

(i) the provision of early learning and childcare, school education, further education or higher education,

(ii) the provision of related services,

(iii) where the relevant operator is an education authority or a further education institution or higher education institution, the use of the operator’s premises for the purpose of protecting public health,

(b) require an educational establishment to open, to stay open, to re-open, or to open at times when it would not usually be open,

(c) require a relevant operator to allow specified people or people of a specified description to attend an educational establishment or relevant premises for which the operator is responsible,

(d) provide for or require specified people or people of a specified description to attend a specified educational establishment or specified premises for the purposes of receiving early learning and childcare, school education, further education or higher education there,

(e) restrict or prohibit access in respect of the whole or a specified part of an educational establishment or of relevant premises,

(f) restrict or prohibit access in respect of the carrying on of all activities or in respect of the carrying on of specified activities,

(g) require measures to ensure safe standards of hygiene, and other measures to protect public health, to be put in place,

(h) require the alteration of term dates, holiday dates or examination dates,

(i) require the taking of actions in general terms, or require the taking of particular actions, that the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate,

(j) make different provision for different purposes (for example, for different descriptions of people attending an educational establishment),

(k) make transitional, transitory or saving provision.

(8) Where early learning and childcare or out of school care is provided by a person acting as a child minder in premises used mainly as a private dwelling, regulations under subsection (1) may only make provision applying to the part of the premises in which such care is provided.

(9) In this section—

• “relevant premises” means any premises (other than residential accommodation) which people attend in order to receive services provided by or on behalf of the relevant operator of an educational establishment there,

• “specified” means specified, or falling within a description specified, in regulations under subsection (1).

9 Regulations on school boarding accommodation

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations—

(a) require a relevant manager of a school boarding establishment to take reasonable steps to restrict or prohibit access to the establishment for a specified period,

(b) require a relevant manager of a school boarding establishment to provide support for pupils for a specified period in order to assist—

(i) their compliance with any restriction or requirement relating to the protection of public health imposed by virtue of an enactment or rule of law,

(ii) their following of any guidance or advice from a public authority relating to the protection of public health,

(iii) their response to a particular request or recommendation from a public authority relating to the protection of public health (for example, a recommendation for a pupil or group of pupils to self-isolate).

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may make provision applying to—

(a) the relevant manager of one or more named school boarding establishments,

(b) the relevant manager of all school boarding establishments,

(c) the relevant managers of a particular description of school boarding establishment.

(3) Before making regulations under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers—

(a) must have regard to any advice from the Chief Medical Officer of the Scottish Administration about protecting public health (or, as the case may be, from another person designated for the purposes of this section by the Scottish Ministers), and

(b) must be satisfied, in view of that advice, that making the regulations is a necessary and proportionate action for or in connection with protecting public health.

(4) Regulations under subsection (1) may provide that any failure to comply with a duty or time limit imposed under any enactment or rule of law relating to education is to be disregarded to the extent that the failure would be attributable to the regulations.

(5) Regulations under subsection (1) may—

(a) restrict or prohibit access in respect of the whole or a specified part of premises in which school boarding accommodation is provided,

(b) restrict or prohibit access in respect of the carrying on of all activities or in respect of the carrying on of specified activities,

(c) require the taking of actions in general terms, or require the taking of particular actions, that the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate,

(d) make different provision for different purposes (for example, for different descriptions of people for whom school boarding accommodation is provided),

(e) make transitional, transitory or saving provision.

(6) In this section—

• “pupil” has the meaning given by section 135(1) of the 1980 Act,

• “relevant manager”, in relation to school boarding accommodation, means a person having responsibility for the management of the accommodation,

• “school boarding accommodation”, in relation to a pupil, means residential accommodation provided to the pupil by a school care accommodation service (within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010)),

• “school boarding establishment” means a place where school boarding accommodation is provided,

• “specified” means specified, or falling within a description specified, in regulations under subsection (1).

10 Regulations on student accommodation

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations—

(a) require a relevant manager of student accommodation premises to take reasonable steps to restrict or prohibit access to the premises for a specified period,

(b) require a relevant manager of student accommodation premises to provide support for students for a specified period in order to assist—

(i) their compliance with any restriction or requirement relating to the protection of public health imposed by virtue of an enactment or rule of law,

(ii) their following of any guidance or advice from a public authority relating to the protection of public health,

(iii) their response to a particular request or recommendation from a public authority relating to the protection of public health (for example, a recommendation for a student or group of students to self-isolate).

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may make provision applying to—

(a) the relevant manager of one or more named student accommodation premises,

(b) the relevant managers of all student accommodation premises,

(c) the relevant managers of a particular description of student accommodation premises.

(3) Before making regulations under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers—

(a) must have regard to any advice from the Chief Medical Officer of the Scottish Administration about protecting public health (or, as the case may be, from another person designated for the purposes of this section by the Scottish Ministers), and

(b) must be satisfied, in view of that advice, that making the regulations is a necessary and proportionate action for or in connection with protecting public health.

(4) Regulations under subsection (1) may provide that any failure to comply with a duty or time limit imposed under any enactment or rule of law relating to education is to be disregarded to the extent that the failure would be attributable to the regulations.

(5) Regulations under subsection (1) may—

(a) restrict or prohibit access in respect of the whole or a specified part of student accommodation premises,

(b) restrict or prohibit access in respect of the carrying on of all activities or in respect of the carrying on of specified activities,

(c) require the taking of actions in general terms, or require the taking of particular actions, that the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate,

(d) make different provision for different purposes (for example, for different descriptions of people for whom student accommodation is provided),

(e) make transitional, transitory or saving provision.

(6) In this section—

• “relevant manager”, in relation to student accommodation, means a person having responsibility for the management of the accommodation,

• “specified” means specified, or falling within a description specified, in regulations under subsection (1),

• “student” means a person who is or is about to be matriculated at a further education institution or a higher education institution,

• “student accommodation” means residential accommodation which has been built or converted for the purpose of being provided to students,

• “student accommodation premises” means a place where student accommodation is provided.

11 Compliance and enforcement

(1) Regulations under this Chapter may provide for the carrying out and enforcement of restrictions and requirements imposed by virtue of the regulations.

(2) A relevant authority must have regard to any guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers about how to comply with regulations under this Chapter.

(3) The Scottish Ministers must publish any guidance issued under subsection (2).

(4) In subsection (2), “relevant authority” has the meaning given by section 6(2).

12 Procedure for regulations

(1) Regulations made by the Scottish Ministers under this Chapter are subject to the affirmative procedure, unless subsection (2) applies to them.

(2) This subsection applies to regulations if the Scottish statutory instrument containing the regulations includes a declaration that the Scottish Ministers are of the opinion that, by reason of urgency, it is necessary to make the regulations without their being subject to the affirmative procedure.

(3) Where subsection (2) applies—

(a) section 30 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 does not apply to the regulations,

(b) the Scottish statutory instrument containing the regulations must be laid before the Scottish Parliament as soon as practicable after they are made, and

(c) the regulations cease to have effect at the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which they are made unless, during that period, the Scottish statutory instrument containing them is approved by a resolution of the Parliament.

(4) In calculating the period of 28 days mentioned in subsection (3)(c), no account is to be taken of any time during which the Scottish Parliament is—

(a) in recess for more than 4 days, or

(b) dissolved.

(5) Regulations ceasing to have effect by virtue of subsection (3)(c) neither—

(a) affects anything previously done under the regulations before they ceased to have effect, nor

(b) prevents new regulations being made.

(6) Where subsection (2) applies to regulations made under this Chapter, the Scottish Ministers must explain why they are of the opinion that, by reason of urgency, it is necessary to make the regulations without their being subject to the affirmative procedure.

(7) Where subsection (2) applies to regulations made under this Chapter, the regulations must include provision for them to expire on a day specified in the regulations.

(8) Subsection (7) does not apply where the regulations amend regulations in which the provision mentioned in subsection (7) has already been included.

(9) Where subsection (2) applies but the regulations—

(a) revoke (in whole or in part) previous regulations made under this Chapter, and

(b) do—

(i) nothing else, or

(ii) nothing else except make transitional, transitory or saving provision related to the revocation,

the Scottish statutory instrument containing the regulations must be laid before the Scottish Parliament as soon as practicable after they are made (and subsection (3)(b) and (c) do not apply to the regulations).

13 Regulations: public health declarations

(1) Regulations under this Chapter which are responding to a particular infection or contamination may be made only when a public health declaration under this section has effect.

(2) A public health declaration means a declaration by the Scottish Ministers that they consider that—

(a) an infectious disease or contaminant constitutes or may constitute a danger to human health, and

(b) the making of regulations under this Chapter may be a way of protecting against that danger.

(3) Before making a public health declaration, the Scottish Ministers must consult the Chief Medical Officer of the Scottish Administration or another person designated for the purposes of this section by the Scottish Ministers.

(4) A public health declaration has effect if—

(a) it is made by the Scottish Ministers,

(b) either—

(i) it is approved in accordance with subsection (6), or

(ii) a statement under section 14(1) is made, and

(c) it has not ceased to have effect in accordance with subsection (10).

(5) The Scottish Ministers must publish a public health declaration in such manner as they consider appropriate.

(6) A public health declaration is approved if—

(a) the Scottish Ministers lay a copy of the declaration before the Scottish Parliament,

(b) a member of the Scottish Government lodges a motion that the declaration be approved, and

(c) the Parliament agrees to the motion.

(7) A motion under subsection (6)(b) may not be amended.

(8) The Scottish Ministers must publish notice of the approval of a public health declaration and the time at which the declaration has effect, in such manner as they consider appropriate.

(9) If, during the period that a public health declaration has effect, the Scottish Ministers consider that paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) no longer apply, they must—

(a) revoke the declaration,

(b) lay notice of revocation before the Scottish Parliament, and

(c) publish notice of revocation in such manner as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

(10) A public health declaration ceases to have effect immediately after it is revoked.

(11) A public health declaration’s ceasing to have effect neither—

(a) affects anything done before the declaration ceased to have effect, nor

(b) prevents the making of regulations revoking regulations made during the period that the declaration had effect.

14 Regulations: further provision about public health declarations

(1) If the Scottish Ministers consider that it is not practicable for a public health declaration to be approved in accordance with section 13(6), they may make a statement explaining why.

(2) An example of when it may not be practicable for a public health declaration to be approved in accordance with section 13(6) is if the Scottish Parliament is dissolved.

(3) When a statement under subsection (1) is made, the Scottish Ministers must—

(a) lay a copy of the public health declaration and the statement before the Scottish Parliament, and

(b) publish the statement in such manner as they consider appropriate.

(4) If a statement under subsection (1) is made—

(a) the public health declaration has effect immediately after the declaration is made, and

(b) the declaration ceases to have effect at the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which it is made unless before the end of that period it is approved by the Scottish Parliament on a motion by a member of the Scottish Government (if it has not already ceased to have effect under subsection (5)).

(5) If, on any day during that period of 28 days, the Parliament comes to a decision not to approve the public health declaration, the declaration ceases to have effect immediately after the decision is made.

(6) In calculating the period of 28 days mentioned in subsections (4) and (5), no account is to be taken of any time during which the Scottish Parliament is—

(a) in recess for more than 4 days, or

(b) dissolved.

(7) A motion under subsection (4)(b) may not be amended.

15 Review of regulations

So long as regulations under this Chapter remain in effect, the Scottish Ministers must review the regulations—

(a) before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which the regulations came into force, and

(b) before the end of each subsequent period of 21 days.

16 Duty to seek views about regulations

(1) So long as regulations under section 8(1) remain in effect, the Scottish Ministers must seek views from the persons listed in subsection (2) about those regulations, and about any regulations under section 9(1) and 10(1) which are also in effect—

(a) before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the regulations under section 8(1) came into force, and

(b) before the end of each subsequent period of 28 days.

(2) The persons are—

(a) such persons as the Scottish Ministers consider representative of—

(i) relevant operators of educational establishments to which the regulations apply,

(ii) relevant managers of school boarding accommodation and student accommodation to which the regulations apply,

(iii) users of such establishments and accommodation (including children and young people),

(iv) staff of such establishments and accommodation (including any trade union which appears representative of such staff), and

(b) such other persons as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

(3) In subsection (2)(a)(ii)—

• “relevant manager”, in relation to school boarding accommodation or student accommodation, means a person having responsibility for the management of the accommodation,

• “school boarding accommodation” has the meaning given by section 9(6),

• “student accommodation” has the meaning given by section 10(6).

17 Report on public schools’ readiness for remote learning

(1) The Scottish Ministers must report on—

(a) how ready education authorities are for the provision of education in public schools by remote learning, and

(b) any specific steps that have been taken by education authorities and the Scottish Ministers to improve readiness for the provision of education in public schools by remote learning.

(2) The Scottish Ministers must publish the report —

(a) in the case of the first report, as soon as practicable after 31 July 2023,

(b) in each other case, from time to time as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), the provision of education does not include the provision of early learning and childcare.

Chapter 2 School consultations

18 School consultations: meetings and documents

(1) The Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 is modified as follows.

(2) After section 11 insert—

“11ZA Directions relating to making documents available and holding public meetings

(1) The Scottish Ministers may, on the application of an education authority, give a direction that the education authority is to take one or more of the actions mentioned in subsection (2).

(2) Those actions are—

(a) to disregard the duty under section 4(4)(a) and 9(3)(a) to publish things in printed form,

(b) to treat the duty under sections 4(4)(b) and 9(3)(b) to make things available for inspection in a place as a duty to make things available in such manner as the education authority considers appropriate instead,

(c) to meet the duty under section 7(1) to hold a public meeting in a place by holding a meeting using remote facilities instead.

(3) A direction may be given under this section only if the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that giving the direction is a necessary and proportionate action for or in connection with the protection of public health.

(4) A direction given under this section may vary or revoke an earlier direction.

(5) A direction under this section—

(a) may be varied or revoked,

(b) may relate to one or more relevant proposals,

(c) may be given subject to such conditions as may be specified in the direction.

(6) A direction given under this section must be published in such manner as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

(7) In this section—

• “protection of public health” is to be construed in accordance with section 1(5) of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008,

• “remote facilities” means any equipment or facility which—

  (a)

  enables persons who are not in the same place to participate in the meeting, and

  (b)

  enables those persons to speak to and be heard by each other (whether or not it enables those persons to see and be seen by each other).”.

Part 3 Public service reform

Bankruptcy

19 Bankruptcy: service of documents

(1) The Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016 is modified by subsections (2) and (3).

(2) After section 224 insert—

“224A Service of documents

(1) Where a provision of this Act or of any regulations made under it authorises or requires a document to be served on a person (whether the expression “serve”, “give”, “send” or any other expression is used), the document may be served on the person—

(a) by being delivered personally to the person,

(b) by being sent to the proper address of the person—

(i) by a registered post service (as defined in section 125(1) of the Postal Services Act 2000), or

(ii) by a postal service which provides for the delivery of the document to be recorded, or

(c) by being transmitted to the person electronically.

(2) For the purpose of subsection (1)(b), the proper address of a person is—

(a) in the case of a body corporate, the address of the registered or principal office of the body,

(b) in the case of a partnership, the address of the principal office of the partnership,

(c) in any other case, the last known address of the person.

(3) Where a document is served as mentioned in subsection (1)(b) on an address in the United Kingdom it is to be taken to have been received 48 hours after it is sent unless the contrary is shown.

(4) For the purpose of subsection (1)(c)—

(a) electronic transmission of a document must be effected in a way that the recipient has indicated to the sender that the recipient is willing to receive the document,

(b) the recipient’s indication of willingness to receive a document in a particular way may be—

(i) specific to the document in question or generally applicable to documents of that kind,

(ii) expressed specifically to the sender or generally (for example on a website),

(iii) inferred from the recipient having previously been willing to receive documents from the sender in that way and not having indicated unwillingness to do so again,

(c) the sender’s uploading of a document to an electronic storage system from which the recipient is able to download the document may constitute electronic transmission of the document, where the recipient is sent a notification that the document has been uploaded in that way,

(d) a notice transmitted electronically is taken to have been received on the day of transmission unless the contrary is shown.

(5) This section does not apply where some other form of delivery is required by rules of court or by order of the court.”.

(3) Section 187 is repealed.

(4) The modifications made by subsection (2) have no effect in relation to any document served before 1 October 2022.

20 Bankruptcy: meaning of “qualified creditor” and “qualified creditors”

(1) The Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016 is modified by subsection (2).

(2) In section 7(1) (qualified creditor and qualified creditors)—

(a) in the definition of “qualified creditor”, for “£3,000” substitute “£5,000”,

(b) in the definition of “qualified creditors”, for “£3,000” substitute “£5,000”.

(3) The modifications made by subsection (2) have no effect in relation to any sequestration in respect of which the petition was presented before 1 October 2022.

21 Bankruptcy: remote meetings of creditors

(1) The Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016 is modified as follows.

(2) In schedule 6 (meetings of creditors and commissioners)—

(a) for paragraph 13 and the italic heading immediately preceding it substitute—

“Holding of meeting

13 Every meeting must be held either—

(a) in such place (whether or not in the sheriffdom) as is, in the opinion of the person calling the meeting, the most convenient for the majority of the creditors, or

(b) by such electronic means as would, in the opinion of the person calling the meeting, be most convenient to allow the majority of the creditors to participate in the meeting without being together in the same place.

13A Where a meeting is to be held in pursuance of paragraph 13(b), the references in paragraphs 4 and 6 to the place fixed for the holding of the meeting are to be read as references to the electronic means by which attendees are to be able to attend the meeting without being together in the same place.”,

(b) in paragraph 24—

(i) for “and place” substitute “, and at the same place or by the same electronic means,”,

(ii) for “in” to “specified” substitute “the resolution specifies otherwise”.

Diligence

22 Bank arrestments: protected minimum balance

(1) The Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 is modified by subsection (2).

(2) In section 73F (protection of minimum balance in certain bank accounts)—

(a) in subsection (3), for “mentioned in subsection (4) below” substitute “of £1,000”,

(b) subsection (4) is repealed,

(c) in subsection (6)—

(i) the “and” at the end of paragraph (a)(ii) is repealed,

(ii) after paragraph (a), insert—

“(aa) vary the protected minimum sum mentioned in subsection (3)(a), and”.

(3) The modifications made by subsection (2) have no effect in relation to an arrestment executed before 1 November 2022.

23 Period of moratorium on diligence

(1) Section 198 of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016 (period of moratorium) is modified as follows.

(2) In each of the following, for “6 weeks” substitute “6 months”—

(a) subsection (1)(b)(i),

(b) subsection (3),

(c) subsection (5),

(d) subsection (7).

(3) In subsection (6)(b), for “13 weeks after the day on which the moratorium began under subsection (1)(a)” substitute “7 weeks after the day on which the moratorium would have ended but for this subsection”.

24 Power to amend period of moratorium on diligence

(1) The Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 198 (period of moratorium), after subsection (8), insert—

“(9) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify this section so as to vary any of the periods specified in subsections (1)(b)(i), (3), (5), (6)(b) or (7).”.

(3) In section 225 (regulations: general), in subsection (4)(a), after “194(1)” insert “, 198(9)”.

Registration of births

25 Giving information of particulars of birth remotely

(1) The Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 14 (duty to give information of particulars of birth)—

(a) in subsection (1)(b), for “the next following subsection” substitute “subsection (2)”,

(b) in subsection (1A)—

(i) in the opening words, the word “by” is repealed,

(ii) in paragraph (a), before “attending” insert “by”,

(iii) after paragraph (a), the word “or” is repealed,

(iv) for paragraph (b) substitute—

“(b) in a manner permitted in the circumstances (or any circumstances) by a direction issued by the registrar, or

(c) in a manner permitted in the circumstances (or any circumstances) by a direction issued by the Registrar General.”,

(c) after subsection (1A) insert—

“(1B) A person has not discharged the duty under subsection (1) in relation to a birth until the birth registration form containing the information given by the person of the prescribed particulars concerning the birth is attested by, or on behalf of, the person.

(1C) References in this section to a birth registration form being attested—

(a) by a person are to the person attesting the form—

(i) in the prescribed manner in the presence of the district registrar, or

(ii) in a manner approved by the Registrar General,

(b) on behalf of a person are to the form being attested by the district registrar in a manner approved by the Registrar General (once the person has provided the registrar with any information the registrar requests).

(1D) Where there is a way for—

(a) a person (“the informant”) to give information of the prescribed particulars of a birth that does not entail the informant attending personally at a registration office, or

(b) a birth registration form to be attested that does not entail the informant attesting it in the presence of a district registrar,

it is for the informant to choose whether to give the information, or attest the form, that way.”.

(3) After section 14 insert—

“14A Directions about giving information of particulars of birth

(1) A direction under section 14(1A)(b) may only permit information to be given in a manner approved by the Registrar General.

(2) A direction under section 14(1A)(c) may not make different provision for different areas.

(3) A power to issue a direction under section 14(1A) includes the power to revise or revoke an earlier direction issued under the power.

(4) Directions under section 14(1A) must be made publicly available.

(5) There is no duty to issue any direction under section 14(1A)(b) or (c).”.

(4) In section 16 (registrar’s power to require information concerning birth to be given)—

(a) in subsection (1)—

(i) after “requiring him” insert “before such date (being not less than 8 days and not more than 15 days after the date of service of the notice) as may be specified in the notice”,

(ii) paragraph (a) is repealed,

(iii) in paragraph (b), after “birth” insert “in one of the following ways—

“(i) by attending personally at the registration office for that district and giving the information to the registrar there; or

(ii) in a manner permitted in the circumstances (or any circumstances) by a direction under section 14(1A)(b) or (c)”,

(iv) for paragraph (c) substitute—

“(c) to either—

(i) attest, in the prescribed manner, the birth registration form concerning the birth in the presence of the registrar; or

(ii) provide the registrar with any information the registrar requests in order for the registrar to attest the form, in a manner approved by the Registrar General, on the person’s behalf.”,

(b) in subsection (2), for “him to attend personally as aforesaid” substitute “the person to do the things mentioned in subsection (1)(b) and (c)”,

(c) after subsection (3) insert—

“(3A) Where there is a way for—

(a) a person on whom a notice under subsection (1) or (2) is served (“the informant”) to give information of the prescribed particulars of a birth that does not entail the informant attending personally at a registration office, or

(b) a birth registration form to be attested that does not entail the informant attesting it in the presence of a district registrar,

it is for the informant to choose whether to give the information, or attest the form, that way.”.

(5) In section 16B(2) (registration of births)—

(a) for “he obtained the attested birth registration by virtue of” substitute “information was given in a manner permitted by a direction under”,

(b) after “14(1A)(b)” insert “or (c)”.

(6) In section 18 (which makes provision about registration by a father not married to, or in a civil partnership with, the child’s mother)—

(a) in subsection (1)(a), for “that person” to “together with” substitute “the birth registration form is to be attested by, or on behalf of, both that person and”,

(b) in subsection (1A), for “by him” to “the registrar” substitute “by, or on behalf of, that person”,

(c) after subsection (3) insert—

“(4) References in this section to a birth registration form being attested—

(a) by a person are to the person attesting the form—

(i) in the prescribed manner in the presence of the district registrar, or

(ii) in a manner approved by the Registrar General,

(b) on behalf of a person are to the form being attested by the district registrar in a manner approved by the Registrar General (once the person has provided the registrar with any information the registrar requests).

(5) Where—

(a) a person is required by this section to attest a birth registration form, and

(b) there is a way for the person to do so that does not entail attesting it in the presence of a district registrar,

it is for the person to choose whether to attest the form that way.”.

(7) In section 18B (births of children where second female parent by virtue of section 43 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008)—

(a) in subsection (1)(a), for “woman concerned shall” to “together with” substitute “birth registration form is to be attested by, or on behalf of, both the woman concerned and”,

(b) in subsection (2), for “in the presence of the registrar” substitute “, or on her behalf”,

(c) after subsection (3) insert—

“(4) References in this section to a birth registration form being attested—

(a) by a person are to the person attesting the form—

(i) in the prescribed manner in the presence of the district registrar, or

(ii) in a manner approved by the Registrar General,

(b) on behalf of a person are to the form being attested by the district registrar in a manner approved by the Registrar General (once the person has provided the registrar with any information the registrar requests).

(5) Where—

(a) a person is required by this section to attest a birth registration form, and

(b) there is a way for the person to do so that does not entail attesting it in the presence of a district registrar,

it is for the person to choose whether to attest the form that way.”.

(8) After section 21 insert—

“21A Meaning of birth registration form

In this Part, references to a birth registration form are to the prescribed form in which—

(a) a person gives a district registrar information of the prescribed particulars concerning a birth, or

(b) a district registrar records information of the prescribed particulars concerning a birth.”.

Registration of deaths

26 Funeral director giving information of particulars of death

(1) The Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 23 (duty to give information of particulars of death)—

(a) after subsection (1) insert—

“(1ZA) The duty to give information concerning a death imposed by subsection (1) is discharged in relation to every person upon whom the duty is imposed if the funeral director responsible for arranging the deceased’s funeral gives the information to the district registrar for a registration district on behalf of any of those persons.

(1ZB) In subsection (1ZA), “funeral director” has the meaning given by section 31(1) of the Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011.”,

(b) in subsection (1A), after “subsection (1)” insert “or (1ZA)”.

27 Giving information of particulars of death remotely

(1) The Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 23 (duty to give information of particulars of death)—

(a) in subsection (1A)—

(i) in the opening words, the word “by” is repealed,

(ii) in paragraph (a), before “attending” insert “by”,

(iii) after paragraph (a), the word “or” is repealed,

(iv) for paragraph (b) substitute—

“(b) in a manner permitted in the circumstances (or any circumstances) by a direction issued by the registrar, or

(c) in a manner permitted in the circumstances (or any circumstances) by a direction issued by the Registrar General.”,

(b) after subsection (1A) insert—

“(1B) A person has not discharged the duty under subsection (1) by giving information to a district registrar until the death registration form containing the information is attested by, or on behalf of, the person.

(1C) References in this section to a death registration form being attested—

(a) by a person are to the person attesting the form—

(i) in the prescribed manner in the presence of the district registrar, or

(ii) in a manner approved by the Registrar General,

(b) on behalf of a person are to the form being attested by the district registrar in a manner approved by the Registrar General (once the person has provided the registrar with any information the registrar requests).

(1D) Where there is a way for—

(a) a person (“the informant”) to give information of the prescribed particulars concerning a death that does not entail the informant attending personally at a registration office, or

(b) a death registration form to be attested that does not entail the informant attesting it in the presence of a district registrar,

it is for the informant to choose whether to give the information, or attest the form, that way.”.

(3) After section 23 insert—

“23A Directions about giving information of particulars of death

(1) A direction under section 23(1A)(b) may only permit information to be given in a manner approved by the Registrar General.

(2) A direction under section 23(1A)(c) may not make different provision for different areas.

(3) A power to issue a direction under section 23(1A) includes the power to revise or revoke an earlier direction issued under the power.

(4) Directions under section 23(1A) must be made publicly available.

(5) There is no duty to issue any direction under section 23(1A)(b) or (c).”.

(4) In section 25 (registrar’s power to require information concerning death to be given)—

(a) in subsection (1)—

(i) after “requiring him” insert “before such date (being not less than 8 days nor more than 15 days after the date of service of the notice) as may be specified in the notice”,

(ii) paragraph (a) is repealed,

(iii) in paragraph (b), after “death” insert “in one of the following ways—

“(i) by attending personally at the registration office for that district and giving the information to the registrar there; or

(ii) in a manner permitted in the circumstances (or any circumstances) by a direction under section 23(1A)(b) or (c)”,

(iv) for paragraph (c) substitute—

“(c) to either—

(i) attest, in the prescribed manner, the death registration form concerning the death in the presence of the registrar; or

(ii) provide the registrar with any information the registrar requests in order for the registrar to attest the form, in a manner approved by the Registrar General, on the person’s behalf.”,

(b) in subsection (2), for “him to attend personally as aforesaid” substitute “the person to do the things mentioned in subsection (1)(b) and (c)”,

(c) after subsection (3) insert—

“(3A) Where there is a way for—

(a) a person on whom a notice under subsection (1) or (2) is served (“the informant”) to give information of the particulars required to be registered concerning a death that does not entail the informant attending personally at a registration office, or

(b) a death registration form to be attested that does not entail the informant attesting it in the presence of a district registrar,

it is for the informant to choose whether to give the information, or attest the form, that way.”.

(5) In section 25B(2) (registration of deaths)—

(a) for “he obtained the attested death registration form by virtue of” substitute “information was given in a manner permitted by a direction under”,

(b) after “23(1A)(b)” insert “or (c)”.

(6) After section 28 insert—

“28ZA Meaning of death registration form

In this Part, references to a death registration form are to the prescribed form in which—

(a) a person gives a district registrar information of the prescribed particulars concerning a death, or

(b) a district registrar records information of the prescribed particulars concerning a death.”.

Further modification of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965

28 Regulations under the 1965 Act

(1) The Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 54(1A) (regulations), for “prescribing the form of a register of marriages under section 32” substitute “under subsection (1)”.

Civil Partnership Register

29 Power to make a register electronic

(1) The Civil Partnership Act 2004 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 95 (further provision as to registration), after subsection (3) insert—

“(3ZA) A civil partnership register may, if the Registrar General so determines, be electronic rather than paper-based.”.

Civic licensing

30 Civic licensing: how hearings may be held

(1) The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 is modified as follows.

(2) In schedule 1 (licensing: further provisions as to the general system), after paragraph 18A insert—

“How hearings may be held

18B (1) A licensing authority may determine that a hearing is to be held—

(a) in person,

(b) wholly through the use of remote facilities, or

(c) partly in person and partly through the use of remote facilities.

(2) When determining how a hearing is to be held, a licensing authority must take account of any views given on that issue by any person who notifies the authority of an intention to participate in the hearing.

(3) In sub-paragraph (1), “remote facilities” means any equipment or facility which—

(a) enables persons who are not in the same place to participate in the hearing, and

(b) enables those persons to speak to and be heard by each other (whether or not it enables those persons to see and be seen by each other).”.

(3) In schedule 2 (control of sex shops and sexual entertainment venues), after paragraph 24A insert—

“How hearings may be held

24B (1) A local authority may determine that a hearing is to be held—

(a) in person,

(b) wholly through the use of remote facilities, or

(c) partly in person and partly through the use of remote facilities.

(2) When determining how a hearing is to be held, a local authority must take account of any views given on that issue by any person who notifies the authority of an intention to participate in the hearing.

(3) In sub-paragraph (1), “remote facilities” means any equipment or facility which—

(a) enables persons who are not in the same place to participate in the hearing, and

(b) enables those persons to speak to and be heard by each other (whether or not it enables those persons to see and be seen by each other).”.

31 Civic licensing: how notices may be published

(1) The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 is modified as follows.

(2) In paragraph 2(8) of schedule 1 (licensing: further provisions as to the general system), after “the authority” insert “, or by publication of a notice on the licensing authority’s website,”.

(3) In paragraph 7(2) of schedule 2 (control of sex shops and sexual entertainment venues), after “area” insert “, or by publishing an advertisement on the local authority’s website,”.

(4) In section 45B(6)(d) (licensing of sexual entertainment venues)—

(a) sub-paragraph (i) is repealed,

(b) in sub-paragraph (ii), sub-paragraphs (3A) and (3B) of the inserted text are repealed.

Alcohol licensing

32 Alcohol licensing: how hearings may be held

(1) The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 is modified as follows.

(2) After section 133 insert—

“133A How hearings may be held

(1) A Licensing Board may determine that a hearing is to be held—

(a) in person,

(b) wholly through the use of remote facilities, or

(c) partly in person and partly through the use of remote facilities.

(2) When determining how a hearing is to be held, a Licensing Board must take account of any views given on that issue by any person who notifies the Board of an intention to participate in the hearing.

(3) In subsection (1), “remote facilities” means any equipment or facility which—

(a) enables persons who are not in the same place to participate in the hearing, and

(b) enables those persons to speak to and be heard by each other (whether or not it enables those persons to see and be seen by each other).”.

(3) In paragraph 12 of schedule 1 (proceedings)—

(a) before sub-paragraph (1) insert—

“(A1) A Licensing Board may determine that a meeting is to be held—

(a) in person,

(b) wholly through the use of remote facilities, or

(c) partly in person and partly through the use of remote facilities.

(A2) When determining how a meeting is to be held, a Licensing Board must take account of any views given on that issue by any person who notifies the Board of an intention to participate in the meeting.”,

(b) after sub-paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A) Where a meeting is held wholly or partly through the use of remote facilities, a Licensing Board complies with the requirement mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) by enabling the public to observe the meeting through the use of remote facilities (for example, by making a web link to the meeting publicly available).”,

(c) after sub-paragraph (6) insert—

“(7) In this paragraph, “remote facilities” means any equipment or facility which—

(a) enables persons who are not in the same place to participate in the meeting, and

(b) enables those persons to speak to and be heard by each other (whether or not it enables those person to see and be seen by each other).”.

Land registration

33 Electronic submission of copies of deeds and writs to Registers of Scotland

(1) The Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012 is modified by subsection (2).

(2) In section 21 (application for registration of deed), after subsection (4) insert—

“(5) For the purposes of this section, submission by electronic means of a copy of the deed is sufficient evidence of the original for the purposes of accepting an application for registration.

(6) But subsection (5) applies only where submission of the copy is by a means (and in a form) which is specified on the Keeper’s website as being acceptable.

(7) In subsection (5), the reference to submission by electronic means is to submission—

(a) by means of an electronic communications network (for example as an attachment to an email), or

(b) by other means but in a form which requires the use of electronic apparatus by the recipient to render the thing delivered intelligible.

(8) In this section—

• “electronic communications network” has the meaning given by section 32 of the Communications Act 2003,

• “the Keeper’s website” means the website maintained by, or on behalf of, the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland.”.

(3) The Land Registers (Scotland) Act 1868 is modified by subsection (4).

(4) In section 6A (provision for writs transmitted electronically to general register of sasines)—

(a) in subsection (1), the words “which is an electronic document” are repealed,

(b) after subsection (5) insert—

“(6) For the purposes of this section, submission by electronic means of a copy of the writ is sufficient evidence of the original for the purposes of accepting an application.

(7) But subsection (6) applies only where submission of the copy is by a means (and in a form) which is specified on the Keeper’s website as being acceptable.

(8) In subsection (6), the reference to submission by electronic means is to submission—

(a) by means of an electronic communications network (for example as an attachment to an email), or

(b) by other means but in a form which requires the use of electronic apparatus by the recipient to render the thing delivered intelligible.

(9) In this section—

• “electronic communications network” has the meaning given by section 32 of the Communications Act 2003,

• “the Keeper’s website” means the website maintained by, or on behalf of, the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland.”.

34 Register of Inhibitions: electronic signature of documents

(1) The Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 is modified as follows.

(2) After section 148 insert—

“148A Register of Inhibitions: electronic signature of documents

(1) This section applies in relation to a document which is required or permitted to be registered or recorded in the Register of Inhibitions.

(2) An electronic signature fulfils any requirement (however expressed) that the document be signed in order to be registered or recorded in the Register.

(3) Any requirement (however expressed) that the document be given to the Keeper in order to be registered or recorded in the Register may be fulfilled by transmitting it to the Keeper electronically.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), the document must be transmitted by a means (and in a form) which is specified on the Keeper’s website as being acceptable for those purposes.

(5) In this section—

• “document” includes a copy of a document,

• “electronic signature” is to be construed in accordance with section 7(2) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000, but includes a version of an electronic signature which is reproduced on a paper document,

• “the Keeper” means the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland,

• “the Keeper’s website” means the website maintained by, or on behalf of, the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland.”.

Legal aid and advice

35 Claim for interim payment of fees and outlays

(1) The Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 is modified by subsections (2) to (4).

(2) In section 4 (Scottish Legal Aid Fund)—

(a) in subsection (2)—

(i) in paragraph (a), for “section 4A(13)” substitute “sections 4A(13) and 33(6)”,

(ii) after paragraph (ac) insert—

“(ad) such sums as are, by virtue of section 33ZB of this Act, due out of the Fund to a solicitor or counsel in connection with the provision of legal aid or advice and assistance;”,

(b) in subsection (3), after paragraph (ad) insert—

“(ae) any sums payable to the Board by a solicitor or counsel by virtue of section 33ZC of this Act;”.

(3) In section 33 (fees and outlays of solicitors and counsel)—

(a) after subsection (3B) insert—

“(3BA) But subsection (3B) does not preclude a solicitor from being paid out of the Fund under section 4(2)(ad) following a claim for interim payment made under section 33ZB in respect of the professional services and outlays mentioned in subsection (3A).”,

(b) in subsection (3C), the word “however,” is repealed,

(c) after subsection (5) insert—

“(6) Where a sum is paid out of the Fund under section 4(2)(ad) in connection with the provision of legal aid or advice and assistance, that sum must be deducted from the sum payable to the solicitor or counsel under section 4(2)(a) in connection with the provision of the legal aid or advice and assistance.”.

(4) After section 33ZA insert—

“Interim payments to solicitors and counsel

33ZB Claim for interim payment

(1) A claim for interim payment may be submitted to the Board by—

(a) a solicitor who is acting for a person by providing legal aid or advice and assistance under this Act,

(b) counsel who is acting for a person by providing legal aid under this Act.

(2) A claim for interim payment must—

(a) be submitted in the manner specified by the Board,

(b) include a declaration from the solicitor or (as the case may be) counsel that the sum claimed does not exceed the sum that the solicitor or counsel would expect to be paid under section 4(2)(a) in connection with the provision of the legal aid or advice and assistance.

(3) If a claim for interim payment is submitted to the Board, the sum claimed must be paid out of the Fund in accordance with section 4(2)(ad) to the solicitor or counsel who submitted the claim.

(4) But the Board may reject the claim if it appears to it that the sum claimed is likely to exceed the sum it would expect to be payable to the solicitor or counsel under section 4(2)(a) in connection with the provision of the legal aid or advice and assistance.

(5) In forming an expectation about the sum payable under section 4(2)(a), for the purposes of subsections (2) and (4), no account is to be taken of the deduction that would be made under section 33(6) if the claim for interim payment were met.

33ZC Recovery where interim payment excessive

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a sum has been paid out of the Fund under section 4(2)(ad) to a solicitor or counsel while providing legal aid or advice and assistance, and

(b) the solicitor or counsel is no longer providing the legal aid or advice and assistance.

(2) Where the sum paid out of the Fund exceeds the sum that would, but for section 33(6), be payable under section 4(2)(a) in connection with the provision of the legal aid or advice and assistance, the solicitor or (as the case may be) counsel is liable to the Board for the difference between the sums.

(3) A firm is jointly and severally liable for a sum owed by a solicitor to the Board by virtue of subsection (2) if the interim payment referred to in that subsection was made to the firm on the solicitor’s instruction.

(4) Where—

(a) a firm is jointly and severally liable to the Board for a sum by virtue of subsection (3), and

(b) a separate sum is due to be paid out of the Fund to the firm, on the instruction of a solicitor,

the Board may deduct all or part of the sum mentioned in paragraph (a) from the sum mentioned in paragraph (b).

(5) This section is without prejudice to any other enactment or rule of law under which the difference between the sums mentioned in subsection (2) may be recovered.”.

(5) Regulation 11 of the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) (Fees) Regulations 1989 (S.I. 1989/1490) is revoked.

Freedom of information

36 Freedom of information: giving notice electronically

(1) The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 74(1)(a) (giving of notice etc.)—

(a) after sub-paragraph (i), the word “or” is repealed,

(b) after sub-paragraph (ii) insert “, or

“(iii) transmitted by electronic means,”.

Mental health

37 Mental health: removal of need for witnessing of signature of nominated person

(1) The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 250(2A) (nomination of named person)—

(a) after paragraph (b), the word “and” is repealed,

(b) paragraph (c) is repealed.

Care services

38 Care services: giving of notices by SCSWIS

(1) The Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 is modified as follows.

(2) For section 101 (giving of notice) substitute—

“101 Giving of notice

(1) In Chapters 3 and 4, any reference to a notice being given to a person providing, or seeking to provide, a care service is to be construed as a reference to its being—

(a) delivered, where the person is—

(i) an individual, to that individual,

(ii) a body corporate, to a director, secretary or other similar officer of that body or to a manager (or other similar officer) of the care service provided by that body,

(iii) a firm, to a partner of that firm,

(b) sent by post, properly addressed to the person—

(i) by a registered post service (as defined in section 125(1) of the Postal Services Act 2000), or

(ii) by a postal service which provides for the delivery of the document to be recorded, or

(c) transmitted to the person electronically.

(2) In subsection (1)(a)(ii), “manager”, in relation to a care service provided by a body corporate, means the manager whose name is entered in the register maintained under regulation 5 of the Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Registration) Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/28) in relation to the care service.

(3) For the purpose of subsection (1)(b)—

(a) a letter is properly addressed to—

(i) a body corporate, if addressed to the body at its registered or principal office,

(ii) a firm, if addressed to the firm at its principal office,

(iii) any other person, if addressed to the person at the address last known,

(b) a notice sent by post is to be taken to have been received on the third day after the day of posting unless the contrary is shown.

(4) For the purpose of subsection (1)(c)—

(a) electronic transmission of a notice must be effected in a way that the person has indicated to SCSWIS that the person is willing to receive the notice,

(b) the person’s willingness to receive a notice in a particular way may be—

(i) specific to the notice in question or generally applicable to notices or other documents of that kind,

(ii) expressed specifically to SCSWIS or generally (for example on a website),

(iii) inferred from the person having previously been willing to receive notices or other documents from SCSWIS in that way and not having indicated an unwillingness to do so again,

(c) SCSWIS’ uploading of a notice to an electronic storage system from which the person is able to download the notice may constitute electronic transmission of the notice from SCSWIS to the person, where the person is sent a notification that the notice has been uploaded in that way,

(d) a notice transmitted electronically is to be taken to have been received on the day of transmission unless the contrary is shown.”.

Requirements of writing

39 Disapplication of physical presence requirements

(1) The Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 9(6) (subscription on behalf of blind granter or granter unable to write), after “this Act” insert “(other than section 10A)”.

(3) After section 10 insert—

“10A Disapplication of physical presence requirements

(1) The following requirements (however expressed) do not apply—

(a) a requirement for a relevant person to be physically in the same place as another person when that person—

(i) signs or subscribes a document or an alteration of a document,

(ii) takes an oath, or

(iii) makes an affirmation or declaration,

(b) a requirement for another person to be physically in the same place as a relevant person when the relevant person signs or subscribes a document or an alteration of a document.

(2) In this section—

• “relevant person” means—

  (a)

  a solicitor,

  (b)

  an advocate,

  (c)

  a notary public,

• “requirement” means a requirement arising from an enactment or rule of law.

(3) For the avoidance of doubt—

(a) the requirements described by subsection (1)(a) include a requirement that may be fulfilled by the physical presence of a professional of a type not mentioned in the definition of “relevant person” as well as by a professional of a type that is (for example, it includes a requirement for the physical presence of a solicitor or a registered medical practitioner), but

(b) subsection (1) only causes such a requirement not to apply in relation to a professional of a type that is mentioned in the definition of “relevant person.”.

Custody at police stations

40 Custody officers’ functions

(1) The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 is modified by subsection (2).

(2) In—

(a) section 102(2) (arrangements for the provision of prisoner escorts), after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the custody of prisoners held in a police station and their production, by electronic means from the station, before a court;”,

(b) section 104(4) (powers and duties of prisoner custody officers performing escort functions), for “on any premises” to “he” substitute “—

“(a) on any premises in which a court of summary jurisdiction is sitting; or

(b) in a police station and has the custody of a prisoner who is, from the station, before a court of summary jurisdiction by electronic means,

the officer”.

(3) The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 is modified by subsection (4).

(4) In schedule 2 (police custody and security officers: powers and duties), after paragraph 1(b) insert—

“(ba) to have custody of persons held in legal custody in a police station for the purpose of effecting their production, by electronic means from the station, before a court,”.

(5) The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 is modified by subsection (6).

(6) In section 64 (meaning of police custody), after subsection (2) insert—

“(3) A person who is at a police station in the custody of a prisoner custody officer is not to be regarded as having been transferred into the custody of that officer for the purposes of subsection (2)(cb).

(4) In subsection (3), “prisoner custody officer” has the meaning given in section 114(1) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.”.

(7) The Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016 is modified by subsection (8).

(8) In section 2(5)(b) (mandatory inquiries), after “2016” insert “, or otherwise in custody at a police station”.

Parole Board for Scotland

41 Chairperson’s functions

(1) The Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 is modified as follows.

(2) In schedule 2 (the Parole Board), after paragraph 2J insert—

“Exercise of chairperson’s functions by other members

2K (1) A function conferred on the chairperson of the Parole Board may be exercised by another member of the Parole Board in accordance with the scheme prepared under sub-paragraph (3).

(2) Another member’s being authorised by the scheme to exercise one of the chairperson’s functions does not preclude the chairperson from exercising that function.

(3) The chairperson must prepare a scheme that authorises another member, or members, to exercise the functions conferred on the chairperson.

(4) The scheme—

(a) must be framed so that a member is, or a combination of members are, authorised to discharge all of the chairperson’s functions in the following circumstances—

(i) there is no chairperson,

(ii) the chairperson is unable to exercise the functions for any reason (for example due to ill health), and

(b) may be framed so that, outwith those circumstances, other members are authorised to discharge any, or all, of the chairperson’s functions either at any time or in circumstances specified by the scheme.

(5) The chairperson may modify the scheme at any time.

(6) The Parole Board must make the scheme publicly available.

(7) Only the chairperson may prepare and modify the scheme; accordingly, the references to the chairperson’s functions elsewhere in this paragraph do not include the functions of preparing and modifying the scheme.”.

Children’s hearings

42 Members of children’s hearings

(1) The Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 6(3) (selection of members of children's hearing), at the beginning of paragraph (a), insert “so far as practicable,”.

Part 4 Tenancies

Removal of mandatory eviction grounds

43 Private residential tenancies: discretionary eviction grounds

(1) The Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 51(2) (First-tier Tribunal’s power to issue an eviction order), the words “or must” are repealed.

(3) In schedule 3 (eviction grounds)—

(a) in paragraph 1(2) (landlord intends to sell)—

(i) in the opening words, for “must” substitute “may”,

(ii) after paragraph (a), the word “and” is repealed,

(iii) after paragraph (b) insert “, and

“(c) the Tribunal is satisfied that it is reasonable to issue an eviction order on account of those facts.”,

(b) in paragraph 2(2) (property to be sold by lender)—

(i) in the opening words, for “must” substitute “may”,

(ii) after paragraph (b), the word “and” is repealed,

(iii) after paragraph (c) insert “, and

“(d) the Tribunal is satisfied that it is reasonable to issue an eviction order on account of those facts.”,

(c) in paragraph 3(2) (landlord intends to refurbish)—

(i) in the opening words, for “must” substitute “may”,

(ii) after paragraph (b), the word “and” is repealed,

(iii) after paragraph (c) insert “, and

“(d) the Tribunal is satisfied that it is reasonable to issue an eviction order on account of those facts.”,

(d) in paragraph 4(2) (landlord intends to live in property)—

(i) for “must” substitute “may”,

(ii) the words from “the landlord” to “3 months” become paragraph (a),

(iii) after paragraph (a) insert “, and

“(b) the Tribunal is satisfied that it is reasonable to issue an eviction order on account of that fact.”,

(e) in paragraph 6(2) (landlord intends to use for non-residential purpose)—

(i) for “must” substitute “may”,

(ii) the words from “the landlord” to “home” become paragraph (a),

(iii) after paragraph (a) insert “, and

“(b) the Tribunal is satisfied that it is reasonable to issue an eviction order on account of that fact.”,

(f) in paragraph 7(2) (property required for religious purpose)—

(i) in the opening words, for “must” substitute “may”,

(ii) after paragraph (b), the word “and” is repealed,

(iii) after paragraph (c) insert “, and

“(d) the Tribunal is satisfied that it is reasonable to issue an eviction order on account of those facts.”,

(g) in paragraph 8 (not an employee)—

(i) in the opening words of sub-paragraph (2), for “must” substitute “may”,

(ii) for sub-paragraph (2)(c) substitute—

“(c) the Tribunal is satisfied that it is reasonable to issue an eviction order on account of those facts.”,

(iii) sub-paragraph (3) is repealed,

(iv) in sub-paragraph (4), for “sub-paragraphs (2) and (3)” substitute “sub-paragraph (2)”,

(h) in paragraph 10(2) (not occupying let property)—

(i) in the opening words, for “must” substitute “may”,

(ii) after paragraph (a), the word “and” is repealed,

(iii) after paragraph (b) insert “, and

“(c) the Tribunal is satisfied that it is reasonable to issue an eviction order on account of those facts.”,

(i) in paragraph 12 (rent arrears), sub-paragraph (2) is repealed,

(j) in paragraph 13(2) (criminal behaviour)—

(i) in the opening words, for “must” substitute “may”,

(ii) after paragraph (a), the word “and” is repealed,

(iii) after paragraph (b) insert “, and

“(c) the Tribunal is satisfied that it is reasonable to issue an eviction order on account of those facts.”,

(k) in paragraph 14(2) (anti-social behaviour), after paragraph (b), for “and” substitute—

“(ba) the Tribunal is satisfied that it is reasonable to issue an eviction order on account of that fact, and”.

44 Assured tenancies: discretionary eviction grounds

(1) The Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 18 (orders for possession)—

(a) subsections (3) and (3A) are repealed,

(b) in subsection (4), for “Part II” substitute “Part I or II”,

(c) in subsection (6)(a), the words “or Ground 8” are repealed,

(d) in subsection (8), for “subsections (3A) and (4A)” substitute “subsection (4A)”.

(3) In section 19 (notice of proceedings for possession), subsection (5) is repealed.

(4) In section 20 (extended discretion of First-tier Tribunal in possession claims)—

(a) in subsection (1), for “Subject to subsection (6) below, the” substitute “The”,

(b) subsection (6) is repealed.

(5) In section 33(1) (recovery of possession on termination of a short assured tenancy)—

(a) in the opening words, for “shall” substitute “may”,

(b) after paragraph (b), the word “and” is repealed,

(c) after paragraph (d) insert “, and

“(e) that it is reasonable to make an order for possession.”.

(6) In schedule 5 (grounds for possession of houses let on assured tenancies)—

(a) in Part I, Ground 8 is repealed,

(b) the heading of Part I becomes “Certain grounds on which First-tier Tribunal may order possession”,

(c) the heading of Part II becomes “Further grounds on which First-tier Tribunal may order possession”.

45 Tenancies under the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984: discretionary eviction grounds

(1) The Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 11 (grounds for possession of certain dwelling-houses)—

(a) in subsection (1)(b), after “Part I” insert “or II”,

(b) subsection (2) is repealed.

(3) In section 12 (extended discretion of Tribunal)—

(a) in subsection (1), the words “Subject to subsection (5) below,” are repealed,

(b) in subsection (2), the words “, subject to subsection (5) below,” are repealed,

(c) subsection (5) is repealed.

(4) In section 14 (conditions applying to recovery of short tenancies)—

(a) in subsection (1), after “Act” insert “provided the First-tier Tribunal considers it reasonable to allow such recovery”,

(b) in subsection (3)—

(i) the words from “a landlord” to “above,” become paragraph (a),

(ii) after paragraph (a) insert “or

“(b) the First-tier Tribunal does not consider it reasonable to allow recovery in accordance with the said Case 15,”,

(iii) the words from “the tenancy shall” to “this subsection.” become the closing words.

(5) In schedule 2 (grounds for possession for protected or statutory tenancies)—

(a) the heading of Part I becomes “Certain cases in which First-tier Tribunal may order possession”,

(b) the heading of Part II becomes “Further cases in which First-tier Tribunal may order possession”.

Pre-action protocol in respect of evictions relating to rent arrears

46 Private residential tenancies: pre-action protocol

(1) The Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 is modified as follows.

(2) In paragraph 12 of schedule 3 (rent arrears)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (4)—

(i) the words from “whether the” to “benefit” become paragraph (a),

(ii) after paragraph (a) insert “, and

“(b) the extent to which the landlord has complied with the pre-action protocol prescribed by the Scottish Ministers in regulations.”,

(b) after sub-paragraph (5) insert—

“(6) Regulations under sub-paragraph (4)(b) may make provision about—

(a) information which should be provided by a landlord to a tenant (including information about the terms of the tenancy, rent arrears and any other outstanding financial obligation under the tenancy),

(b) steps which should be taken by a landlord with a view to seeking to agree arrangements with a tenant for payment of future rent, rent arrears and any other outstanding financial obligation under the tenancy,

(c) such other matters as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.”.

(3) In section 77(3) (regulation-making powers), after “41” insert “and paragraph 12(4)(b) of schedule 3”.

47 Assured tenancies: pre-action protocol

(1) The Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 18 (orders for possession)—

(a) in subsection (4A)—

(i) the words from “the extent” to “universal credit” become paragraph (a),

(ii) after paragraph (a) insert “, and

“(b) the extent to which the landlord has complied with the pre-action protocol specified by the Scottish Ministers in regulations.”,

(b) after subsection (8) insert—

“(9) Regulations under subsection (4A)(b) may make provision about—

(a) information which should be provided by a landlord to a tenant (including information about the terms of the tenancy, rent arrears and any other outstanding financial obligation under the tenancy),

(b) steps which should be taken by a landlord with a view to seeking to agree arrangements with a tenant for payment of future rent, rent arrears and any other outstanding financial obligation under the tenancy,

(c) such other matters as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

(10) Regulations under subsection (4A)(b) are subject to the affirmative procedure (see section 29 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 10)).”.

(3) In section 53(2) (orders and regulations), after “above” insert “or regulations under section 18(4A)(b)”.

Saving and transitional provision

48 Tenancies: saving provision

(1) In relation to a notice to leave (within the meaning of section 62 of the 2016 Act) served on a tenant before 1 October 2022—

(a) the 2016 Act continues to apply in accordance with the modifications made by paragraph 1 of schedule 1 of the 2020 Act and paragraph 5 of schedule 1 of the 2020 (No.2) Act (despite those paragraphs’ expiry),

(b) the 2020 Regulations continue to apply (despite regulation 1 of those Regulations and the expiry of paragraph 5 of schedule 1 of the 2020 (No.2) Act),

(c) the modifications made to the 2016 Act by sections 33 and 36 of this Act do not apply.

(2) In relation to a notice served on a tenant under section 19 or 33(1)(d) of the 1988 Act before 1 October 2022—

(a) the 1988 Act continues to apply in accordance with the modifications made by paragraph 3 of schedule 1 of the 2020 Act and paragraph 4 of schedule 1 of the 2020 (No.2) Act (despite those paragraphs’ expiry),

(b) the 2020 Regulations continue to apply (despite regulation 1 of those Regulations and the expiry of paragraph 4 of schedule 1 of the 2020 (No.2) Act),

(c) the modifications made to the 1988 Act by sections 34 and 37 of this Act do not apply.

(3) In relation to a notice served on a tenant in accordance with section 112(1) of the 1984 Act before 1 October 2022—

(a) the 1984 Act continues to apply in accordance with the modifications made by paragraph 5 of schedule 1 of the 2020 Act (despite that paragraph’s expiry),

(b) the modifications made to the 1984 Act by section 35 of this Act do not apply.

(4) In this section—

• “the 1984 Act” means the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984,

• “the 1988 Act” means the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988,

• “the 2016 Act” means the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016,

• “the 2020 Act” means the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020,

• “the 2020 (No.2) Act” means the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Act 2020,

• “the 2020 Regulations” means the Rent Arrears Pre-Action Requirements (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/304).

49 Tenancies: transitional provision

(1) The 2020 Regulations continue in force (despite regulation 1 of those Regulations and the expiry of paragraphs 4 and 5 of schedule 1 of the 2020 (No.2) Act).

(2) They are deemed to have been made under the powers conferred by section 18(4A)(b) of the 1988 Act and paragraph 12(4)(b) of schedule 3 of the 2016 Act.

(3) In the 2020 Regulations—

(a) references to the pre-action requirements are to be read as references to the pre-action protocol,

(b) the reference in regulation 3 to section 18(3C) is to be read as a reference to section 18(4A)(b),

(c) the reference in regulation 4 to paragraph 12(3B) is to be read as a reference to paragraph 12(4)(b).

(4) Nothing in this section affects the 2020 Regulations insofar as they continue to apply by virtue of section 48.

(5) In this section—

• “the 1988 Act” means the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988,

• “the 2016 Act” means the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016,

• “the 2020 (No.2) Act” means the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Act 2020,

• “the 2020 Regulations” means the Rent Arrears Pre-Action Requirements (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/304).

Part 5 Temporary justice measures

Temporary provisions

50 The measures

The schedule contains temporary modifications to the law.

51 Power to suspend and revive

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations—

(a) suspend the operation of any provision in the schedule,

(b) revive the operation of a provision so suspended.

(2) Sections 15 to 17 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (effect of repeals) apply to the suspension of a provision by regulations under subsection (1)(a) as if the provision had been repealed by an Act.

(3) The powers in subsection (1) may be exercised more than once in relation to the same provision.

52 Expiry

(1) The temporary modifications to the law in the schedule expire at the end of 30 November 2023.

(2) Subsection (1) is subject to the power to bring expiry forward under section 53.

(3) The Scottish Ministers—

(a) may by regulations modify subsection (1) so that it specifies a date one year later than the date for the time being specified, but

(b) may not, by virtue of this subsection, modify subsection (1) so that it specifies a date later than 30 November 2025.

(4) Ahead of any provision in the schedule expiring by virtue of subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must carry out a review of its operation in order to decide whether the date of its expiry should be put back by virtue of subsection (3).

(5) Subsection (4) does not apply if the date specified in subsection (1) is 30 November 2025.

(6) In carrying out a review under subsection (4), the Scottish Ministers must consult any person they consider appropriate.

(7) At the same time as laying a draft Scottish statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (3) before the Scottish Parliament in accordance with section 29(2) of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (instruments subject to the affirmative procedure), the Scottish Ministers must lay before the Parliament a statement summarising—

(a) their reasons for proposing that the regulations be made,

(b) the findings of the latest review carried out under subsection (4),

(c) what consultation they undertook in carrying out that review.

53 Power to bring expiry forward

The Scottish Ministers may by regulations provide that any provision in the schedule—

(a) does not expire at the time when it would otherwise expire (whether by virtue of section 52 or previous regulations under this section), and

(b) expires instead at such earlier time as is specified in the regulations.

54 Regulations under this Part

(1) A power to make regulations conferred by this Part includes the power to make different provision for different purposes.

(2) Regulations under sections 51 and 53 are subject to the negative procedure.

(3) Regulations under section 52 are subject to the affirmative procedure.

Supporting provisions

55 Criminal procedure time limits: consequential modifications

(1) The Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 is modified as follows.

(2) In section 52T(4) (prevention of delay in trials: assessment orders and treatment orders)—

(a) in paragraph (a), for “the total periods of 80 days, 110 days and 140 days” substitute “any period”,

(b) in paragraph (b), the word “total” is repealed,

(c) in paragraph (c)—

(i) for “total of 40 days” substitute “period”,

(ii) before “section” insert “subsection (1) of”.

(3) In section 65 (solemn proceedings: prevention of delay in trials)—

(a) in subsection (3), for “either or both of the periods of 11 and 12 months”, in both places where it occurs, substitute “any period”,

(b) in subsection (10)—

(i) for “the periods of 11 and 12 months specified in subsections (1) and (3) above” substitute “any period specified in subsection (1) (including any such period as extended)”,

(ii) for “detained” substitute “in lawful custody”,

(iii) the words from “in any prison” to the end of the subsection are repealed.

(4) In section 71B (first diet: appointment of trial date)—

(a) in subsection (3)—

(i) for “12 month period”, in both places where it occurs, substitute “period specified in section 65(1)(b)”,

(ii) for “140 day period” substitute “period specified in section 65(4)(b)(ii)”,

(b) in subsection (4), for “12 month period” substitute “period specified in section 65(1)(b)”,

(c) in subsection (5)—

(i) for “140 day period” substitute “period specified in section 65(4)(b)(ii)”,

(ii) for “12 month period”, in both places where it occurs, substitute “period specified in section 65(1)(b)”,

(d) in subsection (6)—

(i) for “140 day period”, in both places where it occurs, substitute “period specified in section 65(4)(b)(ii)”,

(ii) for “12 month period” substitute “period specified in section 65(1)(b)”,

(e) in subsection (7)—

(i) for “140 day period” substitute “period specified in section 65(4)(b)(ii)”,

(ii) for “12 month period”, in both places where it occurs, substitute “period specified in section 65(1)(b)”,

(f) for subsection (10) substitute—

“(10) In this section a reference to the period specified in section 65(1)(b) or section 65(4)(b)(ii) is to be construed as including that period as extended.”.

(5) In section 72A (preliminary hearing: appointment of trial diet)—

(a) in subsection (3)—

(i) for “12 month period”, in both places where it occurs, substitute “period specified in section 65(1)(b)”,

(ii) for “140 day period” substitute “period specified in section 65(4)(aa)(ii)”,

(b) in subsection (4), for “12 month period” substitute “period specified in section 65(1)(b)”,

(c) in subsection (5)—

(i) for “140 day period” substitute “period specified in section 65(4)(aa)(ii)”,

(ii) for “12 month period”, in both places where it occurs, substitute “period specified in section 65(1)(b)”,

(d) in subsection (6)—

(i) for “140 day period”, in both places where it occurs, substitute “period specified in section 65(4)(aa)(ii)”,

(ii) for “12 month period” substitute “period specified in section 65(1)(b)”,

(e) in subsection (7)—

(i) for “140 day period” substitute “period specified in section 65(4)(aa)(ii)”,

(ii) for “12 month period”, in both places where it occurs, substitute “period specified in section 65(1)(b)”,

(f) for subsection (10) substitute—

“(10) In this section a reference to the period specified in section 65(1)(b) or section 65(4)(aa)(ii) is to be construed as including that period as extended.”.

56 Criminal procedure time limits: transitional and saving provision

(1) In relation to solemn proceedings in which the accused’s first appearance on petition was before 1 October 2022—

(a) sections 52T and 65 of the 1995 Act continue to apply in accordance with the modifications made by paragraph 10(2) and (3) of schedule 4 of the 2020 Act (despite that paragraph’s expiry),

(b) the modifications made to the 1995 Act by the following provisions of this Act do not apply—

(i) section 55(3)(b),

(ii) paragraph 20 of the schedule,

(iii) paragraph 22(2) of the schedule.

(2) In relation to summary proceedings in which the complaint is brought in court before 1 October 2022—

(a) section 147 of the 1995 Act continues to apply in accordance with the modifications made by paragraph 10(5) of schedule 4 of the 2020 Act (despite that paragraph’s expiry),

(b) the modification made to section 147 of the 1995 Act by paragraph 22(3) of the schedule of this Act does not apply.

(3) In this section—

• “the 1995 Act” means the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995,

• “the 2020 Act” means the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020.

57 Effect of early release from prison or young offenders institution by virtue of regulations

(1) A person described in the first column of the table below who is released from custody by virtue of regulations under paragraph 25 of the schedule, or paragraph 19(1) of schedule 4 of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, is deemed to have been released by virtue of the provision of the 1993 Act mentioned in the corresponding entry in the second column.

Status of person immediately before release	Provision of the 1993 Act by virtue of which the person is deemed to have been released
A short-term prisoner	section 1(1)
A long-term prisoner	section 1(3)
A person serving a term of imprisonment or detention imposed on a basis mentioned in section 5(1)(a) or (b) of the 1993 Act (fine defaulters and persons in contempt of court) and who is, for any purpose, to be treated as a short-term prisoner by virtue of that section	section 1(1), construed as required by section 5(2)
A person serving a term of imprisonment or detention imposed on a basis mentioned in section 5(1)(a) or (b) of the 1993 Act and who is, for any purpose, to be treated as a long-term prisoner by virtue of that section	section 1(3), construed as required by section 5(2)
A person detained— (a) under section 208 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (detention of children convicted on indictment), or (b) in pursuance of an order under section 7(3) of the 1993 Act (children detained in solemn proceedings)	section 7(2)

(2) In this section—

(a) “1993 Act” means the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993,

(b) “short-term prisoner” and “long-term prisoner”—

(i) have the meanings given in section 27(1) of the 1993 Act, and

(ii) include a person treated, for any purpose, as a short-term prisoner or (as the case may be) a long-term prisoner by virtue of section 6(1)(a) or 16(5)(a) of the 1993 Act.

Part 6 Final provisions

58 Ancillary provision

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make any incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision they consider appropriate for the purposes of, in connection with or for giving full effect to this Act or any provision made under it.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may—

(a) modify any enactment (including this Act),

(b) make different provision for different purposes.

(3) Regulations under subsection (1)—

(a) are subject to the affirmative procedure if they add to, replace or omit any part of the text of an Act,

(b) otherwise, are subject to the negative procedure.

59 Commencement

(1) The following provisions of this Act come into force on the days set out in the table below, with the day specified in the first column for the provision specified in the corresponding entry in the second column.

Day	Provision
Day after Royal Assent	Sections 58, 59, and 60
1 September 2022	Sections 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 51 and 54
24 September 2022	Sections 4 and 26
1 October 2022	Sections 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 55, 56 and 57, and the schedule
1 November 2022	Sections 22 and 42

(2) In relation to section 25—

(a) subsections (6) and (7) come into force—

(i) on 1 September 2022 for the purposes of making regulations under sections 18 and 18B of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965,

(ii) on 24 September 2022 for all other purposes, and

(b) the remaining subsections come into force on 24 September 2022.

(3) In relation to section 27—

(a) subsections (2), (4) and (6) come into force—

(i) on 1 September 2022 for the purposes of making regulations under sections 23, 25 and 28ZA of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965,

(ii) on 24 September 2022 for all other purposes, and

(b) the remaining subsections come into force on 24 September 2022.

(4) The other provisions of this Act come into force on such day as the Scottish Ministers may by regulations appoint.

(5) Regulations under subsection (4) may—

(a) include transitional, transitory or saving provision,

(b) make different provision for different purposes.

60 Short title

The short title of this Act is the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Act 2022.