National Library of Scotland Act 2012

SCHEDULE 1 NLS

(introduced by section 1(2))

Status

1 (1) NLS is a body corporate.

(2) NLS—

(a) is not a servant or agent of the Crown, and

(b) does not enjoy any status or immunity of the Crown.

(3) NLS’s property is not property of, or property held on behalf of, the Crown.

(4) NLS’s members and employees are not to be regarded as civil servants.

Membership

2 (1) NLS is to consist of—

(a) a person appointed by the Scottish Ministers to chair NLS, and

(b) no fewer than 8 and no more than 13 other members appointed by the Scottish Ministers.

(2) One of the members is to be selected from persons nominated by the Dean of the Faculty (who may include the Dean).

(3) The Scottish Ministers may by order amend sub-paragraph (1)(b) so as to substitute a different number for the minimum or maximum number of members for the time being specified there.

(4) A person who, immediately before this sub-paragraph comes into force, is a member of The Trustees of the National Library of Scotland ceases to be such a member on the date this sub-paragraph comes into force.

(5) A member holds and vacates office in accordance with terms and conditions determined by the Scottish Ministers.

(6) A member may resign office by giving notice in writing to the Scottish Ministers.

(7) The Scottish Ministers may reappoint as a member a person who has ceased to be a member.

Persons disqualified from membership of NLS

3 A person is disqualified from appointment (and from holding office) as a member of NLS if the person is (or becomes)—

(a) a member of the House of Commons,

(b) a member of the Scottish Parliament, or

(c) a member of the European Parliament.

Removal of members

4 (1) The Scottish Ministers may, by written notice, revoke the appointment of a member if—

(a) the member becomes insolvent,

(b) the member has been absent from 3 consecutive meetings without the permission of NLS,

(c) the member is otherwise unfit to be a member or unable for any reason to discharge the functions of a member.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(a), a member becomes insolvent when—

(a) the member’s estate is sequestrated,

(b) the member grants a trust deed for creditors or enters into a composition contract,

(c) a voluntary arrangement proposed by the member is approved, or

(d) the member is adjudged bankrupt.

Remuneration, allowances and expenses of members

5 NLS must pay to each member—

(a) such remuneration, and

(b) such allowances and expenses,

as the Scottish Ministers may determine.

Chief executive and other staff

6 (1) NLS is to employ a chief executive.

(2) The chief executive may not be a member of NLS.

(3) The first chief executive is to be the person who, immediately before this paragraph comes into force, is the librarian appointed under section 2(f) of the 1925 Act.

(4) That person is employed as chief executive on the same terms and conditions as apply to the appointment of that person as the librarian.

(5) Each subsequent chief executive is, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, to be appointed on terms and conditions determined by NLS and approved by the Scottish Ministers.

(6) NLS may employ any other staff necessary for the carrying out of NLS’s functions.

(7) Those staff are to be employed on terms and conditions determined by NLS and approved by the Scottish Ministers.

(8) NLS may, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers—

(a) pay (or make arrangements for the payment of),

(b) make payments or contributions towards the provision of,

(c) provide and maintain schemes (whether contributory or not) for the payment of,

such pensions, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of any person who is or has ceased to be an employee, as NLS may determine.

(9) The reference in sub-paragraph (8) to pensions, allowances and gratuities includes a reference to pensions, allowances and gratuities by way of compensation for loss of office.

Committees

7 (1) NLS may establish committees for any purpose relating to its functions.

(2) NLS is to determine the composition of its committees.

(3) NLS may appoint persons who are not members of NLS to be members of a committee, but those persons are not entitled to vote at meetings of the committee.

(4) A committee is to comply with any directions given to it by NLS.

Procedure and meetings

8 (1) NLS may determine its own procedure and that of its committees, including a quorum for meetings.

(2) The following persons may attend and take part in a meeting of NLS (or any of its committees)—

(a) members of the Scottish Executive,

(b) persons authorised by the Scottish Ministers,

(c) the Dean of the Faculty or a person authorised by the Dean of the Faculty.

(3) The persons mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) are not entitled to vote at such meetings.

Delegation of functions

9 (1) NLS may authorise—

(a) the chief executive,

(b) any other employee,

(c) any of its committees,

to exercise such of its functions (and to such extent) as it may determine.

(2) NLS may not authorise either of the following functions to be exercised by any other person—

(a) the approval of annual reports and accounts,

(b) the approval of any budget or other financial plan.

(3) Sub-paragraph (1) does not affect the responsibility of NLS for the exercise of its functions.

Validity of proceedings and actions

10 The validity of proceedings or actions of NLS (including proceedings or actions of any of its committees) is not affected by—

(a) any vacancy in the membership of NLS or any of its committees,

(b) any defect in the appointment of a member of NLS or any of its committees, or

(c) the disqualification of a person as a member after appointment.

General powers

11 (1) NLS may do anything which appears to it—

(a) to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of, or in connection with, the exercise of its functions,

(b) to be conducive to the exercise of its functions.

(2) In particular, NLS may—

(a) enter into contracts,

(b) with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, acquire and dispose of land,

(c) borrow money from the Scottish Ministers or, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, from other persons,

(d) enter into any business or undertaking,

(e) form, promote or acquire (whether alone or with others) companies (within the meaning of the Companies Act 2006 (c.46)),

(f) enter into joint ventures with others,

(g) undertake or execute any charitable trust,

(h) invest sums not immediately required in relation to the exercise of its functions,

(i) accept gifts of money and other property,

(j) obtain advice or assistance from any person who, in NLS’s opinion, is qualified to give it,

(k) carry out or commission research,

(l) issue publications,

(m) make charges for access to the collections,

(n) make other charges in connection with the exercise of its functions (including charges for the provision of goods and services).

(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(g), a trust is a charitable trust if all its purposes are within section 7(2) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 10).

Accounts

12 (1) NLS must—

(a) keep proper accounts and accounting records,

(b) prepare in respect of each financial year a statement of accounts, and

(c) send a copy of the statement to the Scottish Ministers.

(2) NLS must comply with any directions which the Scottish Ministers give it in relation to the matters mentioned in sub-paragraph (1).

(3) NLS must send the statement of accounts to the Auditor General for Scotland for auditing.

Reports

13 (1) As soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, NLS must prepare a report which is—

(a) to provide information on the exercise of its functions during that year, and

(b) to include a copy of the statement of accounts for that year audited by the Auditor General for Scotland.

(2) NLS must—

(a) send a copy of the report to the Scottish Ministers, and

(b) publish the report.

(3) The Scottish Ministers must lay a copy of the report before the Scottish Parliament.

(4) NLS may publish such other reports and information on matters relevant to its functions as it considers appropriate.