(1)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations specify the standards and requirements to which an education authority must conform in discharging its functions relating to Scots language education in the schools under its management.
(2)Regulations under subsection (1) may make different provision for different purposes and different areas (including different parts of the area of an education authority).
(3)Regulations under subsection (1) are subject to the negative procedure.
(4)In preparing regulations under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must consult—
(a)education authorities,
(b)persons with an interest in the promotion of the Scots language,
(c)persons with an interest in the publication of books and other resources in the Scots language, and
(d)such other persons as they consider appropriate.