Section 10 - Delegation of Ministerial functions under section 5 of the Science and Technology Act 1965
18.This section inserts subsections (1A) to (1D) into section 5 of the Science and Technology Act 1965 (further powers of the Scottish Ministers). Section 5 of that Act enables the Scottish Ministers to make certain financial provision in relation to scientific research.
19.Subsection (1A) enables the Scottish Ministers to delegate their functions which are set out in section 5(1)(a) to (c) of the 1965 Act to such persons as they consider appropriate. Any expenses incurred by such persons in such activities can be paid out of the expenses defrayed by the Scottish Ministers out of monies provided by Parliament.
20.Subsection (1B) provides that where the power in paragraph (c) of subsection 1 is delegated, which relates to expenses incurred in specified payments to or in respect of any advisory body established for the purpose of assisting the Secretary of State or, in matters connected with scientific research, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the paragraph is to be read with the words “Secretary of State” being replaced by reference to the delegate.
21.Subsection (1C) provides that if the Scottish Ministers delegate under subsection (1A), they can still carry out the function themselves. Subsection (1D) addresses the potential limitations on the exercise of a delegate’s functions at the ‘conferring end’. This means that should a body be delegated the power, any restriction on its functions which might otherwise prevent it from exercising the power will not prevent the delegated power being exercised.