(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order modifies Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998 (c.46). Schedule 5 defines reserved matters (matters which are outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament) for the purposes of that Act. The Order provides an exception to the reservation of the Constitution under paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 5 so that a referendum on the independence of Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom is not a reserved matter if certain requirements are met.
The Order modifies the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c.41) to apply certain provisions relating to referendum campaign broadcasts and the sending of referendum addresses free of charge. The Order also makes consequential modifications to references to referendum campaign broadcasts, and to section 200A of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c.2).