After section 17DA insert—

“17DBCo-operation for the purposes of this Part

(1)

The Lord Advocate may co-operate with the Scottish Ministers in relation to the exercise of the Scottish Ministers’ functions under sections 16 to 17DA.

(2)

The Scottish Ministers may by regulations impose on any person not mentioned in subsection (1), or any type of person, a duty to co-operate with the Scottish Ministers in relation to the exercise of the Scottish Ministers’ functions under sections 16 to 17DA.

(3)

The Scottish Ministers may co-operate with a person to whom subsection (4) applies for the purpose of—

(a)

the exercise of the Scottish Ministers’ functions under sections 16 to 17DA,

(b)

the exercise by the person of equivalent functions in the place in which the person operates.

(4)

This subsection applies to a person who, in a place other than Scotland—

(a)

has functions equivalent to any of the Scottish Ministers’ functions under sections 16 to 17DA,

(b)

has responsibility for information relevant to the Scottish Ministers’ functions under sections 16 to 17DA.

(5)

For the purposes of this section, co-operation includes in particular the provision of such information as the Scottish Ministers reasonably require for the purpose of exercising those functions.

(6)

In section 88(2)—

(a)

in the opening words, after “order” insert “or regulations”,

(b)

in paragraph (a), after “17B(7)” (as inserted by section 42(6)) insert “, 17DB(2)”.”.