21Naming of panel and re-naming of committeesS
(1)The panel constituted under Schedule 4 of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 58) is to be known as the private rented housing panel.
(2)Rent assessment committees constituted in accordance with that Schedule are to be known as private rented housing committees.
(3)The panel, the president of the panel and those committees are—
(a)to continue to exercise the functions conferred on them by virtue of Part 5 of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 58) and Part 2 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 (c. 43), and
(b)in addition, to exercise the functions conferred on them by this Act.
(4)It is for the president to monitor the exercise by those committees of the functions conferred on them by this Act.
(5)Those committees must comply with any direction, and have regard to any guidance, given by the president in connection with the exercise of those functions.
(6)But the president may not give any such direction in relation to a particular case.
(7)Directions or guidance given under subsection (5) may be varied or revoked at any time.
(8)The president's functions under this Act may, where the president is absent or incapacitated, be exercised by the vice-president of the panel.
(9)Any reference to the panel or to any of those committees in any enactment or instrument is to be construed in accordance with subsection (1) or, as the case may be, (2).