EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order specifies the enactments set out in Schedule 1 as relevant enactments for the purposes of section 2 of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (“the Act”).

The effect of specification is to require the Scottish Ministers and SEPA to exercise their functions under those enactments so as to secure compliance with the requirements of Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23rd October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy(1) and to act in accordance with the requirements of section 2(4) of the Act.

This Order also designates certain public bodies and office-holders as responsible authorities for the purposes of Part 1 of the Act. Article 3(1) of the Order designates the bodies and office-holders set out in column 1 of Schedule 2 for this purpose.

The functions of those bodies and office-holders which are conferred by the enactments set out in column 2 of Schedule 2, and which relate to the water environment, are specified by Article 3(2) of the Order as designated functions for the purposes of Part 1 of the Act.

(1)

O.J. No L 327, 22.12.2000, p.1; amended by decision 2455/2001/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 20th November 2001 establishing the list of priority substances in the field of water policy and amending Directive 2000/60/EC (O.J. No. L 331, 15.12.2001, p.1).