Part 1Access to information held by Scottish public authorities

Right to information

5 Further power to designate Scottish public authorities

(1)

The Scottish Ministers may by order designate as a Scottish public authority for the purposes of this Act any person mentioned in subsection (2) who—

(a)

is neither for the time being listed in schedule 1 nor capable of being added to that schedule by order under section 4(1); and

(b)

is neither a public body nor the holder of any public office.

(2)

The persons are those who either—

(a)

appear to the Scottish Ministers to exercise functions of a public nature; or

(b)

are providing, under a contract made with a Scottish public authority, any service whose provision is a function of that authority.

(3)

An order under subsection (1) may designate a specified person or persons falling within a specified description.

(4)

An order under subsection (1) made by virtue of—

(a)

subsection (2)(a) must specify the functions of a public nature which appear to be exercised;

(b)

subsection (2)(b) must specify the service being provided.

(5)

Before making an order under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must consult—

(a)

every person to whom the order relates; or

(b)

persons appearing to them to represent such persons.