This Order which extends to Scotland only, brings into force certain provisions of the National Health Service (Primary Care) Act 1997 (“the 1997 Act”).

Article 2 of the Order appoints 5th March 2001 for the coming into force of sections 21(2) and (3), 22(2) and 25(2) of the 1997 Act, but only as those sections apply to personal medical services. Section 21(2) inserts new sub sections 17C and 17D into the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (“the 1978 Act”). These sections allow for arrangements to be made between specified bodies for the provision of personal medical services. Section 22(2) inserts a new sub section 17E into the 1978 Act. This section provides for regulations to be made concerning arrangements under section 17C. Section 25(2) inserts a new section 24A into the 1978 Act. This section provides power to make regulations concerning deputising by one type of medical practitioner for another.

Article 2 of the Order also brings into force on 5th March 2001 paragraphs 34, 56 and part of 57 of Schedule 2 to the 1997 Act, which make minor consequential amendments to the 1978 Act relating to arrangements under section 17C of the 1978 Act.

The National Health Service (Primary Care) Act 1997 (Commencement No. 4) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/631) and the National Health Service (Primary Care) Act 1997 (Commencement No. 5) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1998) restricted the interpretation of references to section 17C in enactments as references to pilot schemes. Article 3 of this Order removes this restrictive interpretation in the light of the insertion of section 17C itself into the 1978 Act.