http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2008/5/section/9/notesHealthInfectious diseasesLight pollutionLegislationNational Health Service (NHS)Explanatory Notes to Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008Scottish GovernmentKing's Printer for Scotland2020-03-10 5 16 July 2008 Part 1 19 Under this (1)section the Scottish Ministers may direct that the functions of a health board or a local authority be performed by a person other than the health board or local authority whether or not they have made a previous direction under section 8. However, if a direction to a health board or a local authority has been given under section 8, the Scottish Ministers may not give a direction under this section unless the period specified in the first direction has expired or that direction has been withdrawn. 20 Subsection (3) sets out the persons that may be specified in a direction by the Scottish Ministers, namely: a health board, the common services agency, a local authority, an employee of any of these bodies, a member of staff of the Scottish Administration or any other person the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate. 21 Subsection (4) sets out the information that must be contained in a direction under this section, that is: the function to which it applies, the person receiving the direction, the period for which that person is to perform the function, the extent to which it will be performed, and any other conditions imposed by the Scottish Ministers as they consider appropriate. Subsection (5) allows the Scottish Ministers to vary or withdraw a direction.