EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations make provision in relation to bringing into force particular sections of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (“the Act”).
Regulation 2(1) and schedule 1 appoint 1st November 2016 for the coming into force of the provisions listed there. Regulation 2(2) provides that where a purpose is specified in the third column of the table in schedule 1 the associated provision comes into force only for that purpose. The subject matter of the provisions commenced by schedule 1 are: partial commencement of the Scottish Land Commission and commencement of section 44 of the Act on engaging communities in decisions relating to land.
Regulation 2(3) and schedule 2 appoint 1st April 2017 for the coming into force of the sections listed there, which relate to the Scottish Land Commission. Regulation 2(4) appoints 1st October 2017 for the coming into force of section 22(3)(a)(i) as this is the date when the Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement under Part 1 of the Act must be published and laid before the Scottish Parliament.
Regulation 3 makes provision so that during the period before the Scottish Land Commission is fully commenced the Commission and any Commissioners appointed have the function of getting ready for the point at which they are required to perform their respective full functions under the Act.
Regulation 4 provides that the first financial year runs from 1st November 2016 until 31st March 2018 so that accounting and reporting includes the period during which the Commission is setting up.