Explanatory Notes

Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010

2010 asp 16

9 November 2010

Commentary on Sections

Part 2 – Regulation of Licensed Legal Services

Chapter 1 – Approved Regulators
Ceasing to regulate
Section 40 – Cessation directions

85.Section 40 applies where an approved regulator’s regulatory scheme is amended so as to exclude its regulation of certain categories of licensed provider or legal services, or its authorisation is (or is to be) amended under section 38(4)(e), rescinded under section 38(4)(f), or surrendered under section 39(1).

86.Section 40(2) gives the Scottish Ministers a wide power to direct an approved regulator to take such action as they consider necessary or expedient for the purpose of providing continued effective regulation of affected licensed providers. This might include, for example, requiring an approved regulator to alter the timing of its surrender of authorisation to ensure that another approved regulator was in a position to accept its former licensed providers.