http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2010/5/section/51/notesNature reservesNature conservationLegislationCoastal erosion and protectionClimate and weatherExplanatory Notes to Marine (Scotland) Act 2010Scottish GovernmentKing's Printer for Scotland2013-10-16 5 10 March 2010 78 Section 51 indicates that the Scottish Ministers may by order delegate any of their licensing functions listed in this section to a public authority or an unincorporated group of persons. Those functions specified in section 51(6) are excepted functions and cannot be delegated. 79 The Scottish Ministers may not continue to exercise any function which has been delegated unless the order explicitly permits them to do so. There is no minimum or maximum period for which the delegation can apply. Different functions can be delegated to different persons.