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National Library of Scotland Act 2012

General

Schedule 1 – NLS

Paragraph 1 – Status

61.NLS, as governing body of the institution of the National Library of Scotland, is a body corporate. NLS is not a Crown body and therefore does not have any of the special privileges of the Crown.

Paragraph 2 – Membership

62.The board of NLS is to consist of a chairing member and not fewer than 8 nor more than 13 other members. All board members are to be appointed by the Scottish Ministers, and one of those members is to be selected from persons nominated by the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates. Sub-paragraph (4) clarifies that members of The Trustees of the National Library of Scotland under the 1925 Act cease to hold office unless they are appointed under paragraph 2.

63.Sub-paragraph (3) gives the Scottish Ministers power to substitute by order different minimum or maximum numbers of members in sub-paragraph (1)(b).

Paragraph 3 – Persons disqualified from membership of NLS

64.Members of the House of Commons (MPs), Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are disqualified from appointment and from holding office as members of NLS.

Paragraph 4 – Removal of members

65.The Scottish Ministers have the power to remove a member of NLS from office if they are satisfied that the member is insolvent (see sub-paragraph (2)), has been absent from 3 consecutive meetings without permission or is otherwise unfit or unable to discharge the functions of being a member. Whilst NLS has charitable status, a member of NLS who becomes disqualified from being a charity trustee within the meaning of section 69 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 10) would be unfit to discharge the functions of being a member of NLS.

Paragraph 5 – Remuneration, allowances and expenses of members

66.NLS is to pay to its members any remuneration, allowances and expenses determined by the Scottish Ministers.

Paragraph 6 – Chief executive and other staff

67.The most senior member of staff of NLS under the 1925 Act is the National Librarian. This post is to be known as chief executive and the first chief executive is to be the Librarian in post immediately before paragraph 6 comes into force (see subparagraphs (1) to (4)). Subsequent chief executives are to be employed, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, on terms and conditions determined by NLS and approved by Ministers (see sub-paragraph (5)). The chief executive may not be a member of NLS (see sub-paragraph (2)).

68.NLS may appoint employees on terms and conditions determined by NLS and approved by the Scottish Ministers (see sub-paragraphs (6) and (7)). The existing staff of NLS will continue in post under their existing terms and conditions.

69.Sub-paragraphs (8) and (9) give NLS power to arrange, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, for pensions, allowances or gratuities for its staff.

Paragraph 7 – Committees

70.NLS may establish committees for any purpose relating to its functions and determine the composition of such committees. NLS may appoint persons who are not members of NLS to be non-voting members of a committee. A committee of NLS must comply with any directions of NLS.

Paragraph 8 – Procedure and meetings

71.NLS determines its own procedure and the procedure of its committees. Sub-paragraph (2) allows for attendance at NLS and committee meetings by non-voting representatives, namely members of the Scottish Government, persons authorised by the Scottish Ministers(10) or the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates (or a person authorised by the Dean).

Paragraph 9 – Delegation of functions

72.NLS may delegate its functions to the chief executive, any other employee or any of its committees. Sub-paragraph (2) provides that the power of delegation does not apply to certain functions relating to reports and financial matters.

Paragraph 10 – Validity of proceedings and actions

73.The validity of any proceedings or actions of NLS or its committees is not affected by any irregularity in the membership of NLS or its committees.

Paragraph 11 – General powers

74.Sub-paragraph (1) gives NLS wide power to do anything related to the exercise of its functions and sub-paragraph (2) sets out specific powers of NLS. NLS’s powers to acquire and dispose of interests in land and to borrow money from persons other than the Scottish Ministers are subject to the approval of the Scottish Ministers. See also paragraph 13(4) which empowers NLS to publish reports and information on matters relevant to its functions as it considers appropriate.

Paragraph 12 – Accounts

75.NLS must manage its financial accounting and comply with any accounts directions given by the Scottish Ministers. NLS must send its annual statement of accounts to the Auditor General for Scotland for auditing.

Paragraph 13 – Reports

76.NLS is to prepare and publish an annual report which is to include a copy of NLS’s audited statement of accounts. A copy must be sent to the Scottish Ministers, who must lay it before the Scottish Parliament.

10

The Scottish Ministers is the collective name for the members of the Scottish Government under section 44(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 (c.46).

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Text created by the Scottish Government to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Acts of the Scottish Parliament except those which result from Budget Bills.

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