84.This section provides that the Scottish Ministers may delegate their functions relating to support, including where those functions relate to the giving of guidance or the exercise of discretion. This enables the Scottish Ministers to use other organisations and bodies to administer support schemes. It also allows the Scottish Minsters to have public bodies like NatureScot prepare guidance where that is appropriate. Regulations made under section 9 can be used to impose requirements for scrutiny of such guidance (see, in particular, subsection (2)(a) of that section).
85.The Scottish Ministers remain responsible for any delegated functions.