Purpose and Effect
This paragraph inserts a new section 288A into the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 to enable the Advocate General for Scotland to refer a devolution issue which may arise in criminal proceedings to the High Court of Justiciary for their opinion.
The paragraph also inserts a new section 288B into the 1995 Act. The new section makes provision for the implementation by the High Court of Justiciary of any determination by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council following an appeal on a devolution issue from the High Court.