Explanatory Notes

Scottish General Election (Coronavirus) Act 2021

2021 asp 5

29 January 2021

Commentary on Sections

Disapplication of existing law

Section 2: Disapplication of section 2 of Scotland Act 1998

7.This section nullifies the effect of certain provisions in the Scotland Act 1998 that would otherwise apply to the 2021 election. Specifically, these provisions are section 2(3) and (4), which relate to the dissolution of the Parliament before an election and the first meeting of the Parliament following an election; section 2(5), which gives the Presiding Officer of the Parliament a power to propose an alternative date for an election a month either side of when it would otherwise be due to occur; and section 2(5ZZA) and (5ZA), which are consequential to section 2(5). These provisions are replaced, for the purpose of the 2021 election, by sections 6 to 11 of the Act.