The Scottish Parliament (Letters Patent and Proclamations) Order 1999

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Section 28 of the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46) (“the 1998 Act”) provides that Bills of the Scottish Parliament receive Royal Assent at the beginning of the day on which Letters Patent under Her Majesty’s Seal appointed by the Treaty of Union to be kept and used in Scotland in place of the Great Seal of Scotland (“the Scottish Seal”) signed with Her Majesty’s own hand signifying Her Assent are recorded in the Register of the Great Seal. Sections 2(5) and 3(2) of the 1998 Act also confer power on Her Majesty in certain circumstances by proclamation to dissolve the Scottish Parliament, to require a general election to be held, to set the date of the poll at the election and to require the Parliament to meet within seven days of the poll.

This Order prescribes the form of words to be used in Letters Patent signifying Royal Assent to Bills passed by the Scottish Parliament and in royal proclamations made under sections 2(5) and 3(2) of the Scotland Act 1998. It also makes provision as to the preparation and publication of those documents.