(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order brings into force all of the provisions of the Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004 (“the Act”), with the exception of sections 7 and 9 which came into force on the date of Royal Assent on 27th January 2004.
Article 2(1) brings into force on 13th February 2004 the provisions of the 2004 Act which are specified in column 1 of the Schedule to the Order but only for the purposes specified in column 2 of that Schedule. This will enable powers contained in those provisions to be exercised to make regulations, arrangements, and contracts which will come into force or commence on 1st April 2004 when the whole Act comes into force.
Article 2(2) makes it clear that Article 2(1) is without prejudice to paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to the Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Publication and Interpretation etc. of Acts of the Scottish Parliament) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1379) which permits powers in an Act of the Scottish Parliament to be exercised, in certain circumstances, before the Act is in force. This is in case reliance has to be placed upon this provision.
Article 2(3) brings into force on 1st April 2004 all the provisions of the Act in so far as they are not already in force.