(1)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision for or in connection with the purpose mentioned in subsection (2).
(2)The purpose is promoting or facilitating participation in relation to decisions of such persons as may be specified (in this section, “relevant persons”) relating to activities carried out, or proposed to be carried out, by or on behalf of those persons.
(3)Regulations under subsection (1) may enable relevant persons to determine—
(a)the persons whose participation in relation to such decisions is to be promoted or facilitated, and
(b)which of those decisions persons so determined may participate in relation to.
(4)Regulations under subsection (1) may provide that activities as mentioned in subsection (2) include the allocation of—
(a)financial resources, and
(b)such other resources as may be specified.
(5)Regulations under subsection (1) may, in particular, include provision—
(a)(without prejudice to subsection (3)), conferring functions on relevant persons,
(b)specifying activities as mentioned in subsection (2) in relation to which the regulations apply, or do not apply,
(c)specifying classes of such activities in relation to which the regulations apply, or do not apply,
(d)specifying criteria for determining such activities in relation to which the regulations apply, or do not apply,
(e)requiring relevant persons to prepare and publish a report, at such intervals as may be specified, describing the steps taken by the persons in connection with the carrying out of functions conferred on them by the regulations.
(6)Relevant persons must have regard to any guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers relating to functions conferred on them by regulations under subsection (1).
(7)Regulations under subsection (1) may specify a person in relation to whose decisions participation is to be promoted or facilitated only if the person is—
(a)a part of the Scottish Administration, or
(b)a Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions (within the meaning of the Scotland Act 1998).
(8)In this section, “specified” means specified in regulations made under subsection (1).