7.The Parliament agreed that the Bill for the Act be treated as an Emergency Bill. All stages of the Bill (SP Bill 33 (Session 1)) were considered on the same day - 6 September 2001 (Scottish Parliament Official Report, 6 September 2001, Cols. 2265 to 2312, 2368 to 2385 and 2388 to 2390). The Bill was passed without amendment on that day.
8.The Bill was given Royal Assent on 13 September 2001 and the Act came into force on that day.