18.Section 8 covers the reporting requirements under the Act which must be met by the Scottish Ministers, appointing persons and public authorities. Reports on the operation of the Act must be in accordance with provision made in regulations by the Scottish Ministers.
19.Section 8(1) and (2) require the Scottish Ministers to lay reports on the operation of the Act before the Scottish Parliament at intervals of no more than two years and in accordance with provision made in regulations under subsection (6). In addition, under subsection (3) the Scottish Ministers must publish reports on the carrying out of their functions under sections 3 to 6 in accordance with provision made in regulations under subsection (6). Subsection (4) provides that an appointing person (other than the Scottish Ministers) specified in regulations under subsection (6) must publish reports on the carrying out of its functions under section 3 to 6 in accordance with provision made in regulations under subsection (6). Subsection (5) provides that a public authority specified in regulations under subsection (6) must publish reports on the carrying out of its functions under sections 5 and 6 in accordance with provision made in regulations under subsection (6).
20.Under subsection (6), the Scottish Ministers may by regulations: specify appointing persons for the purposes of subsection (4); specify public authorities for the purposes of subsection (5), and make further provision about reports mentioned in subsections (1) to (5). Section 8 will be used to ensure appointing persons and public authorities report on the operation of the Act.