Part 1Simplification of public bodies

Transfer of functions

2Transfer to Scottish Natural Heritage of functions of Advisory Committee on sites of special scientific interest

(1)

The committee referred to in section 21(1) of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6) is dissolved.

(2)

All property, rights, liabilities and obligations of the committee referred to in subsection (1) are transferred to Scottish Natural Heritage.

(3)

In the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004—

(a)

in section 21 (Advisory Committee on sites of special scientific interest), subsections (1) to (5) are repealed,

(b)

in subsection (8) of that section, for paragraphs (a) to (c) substitute—

“(a)

consider the matter, and

(b)

take such action as it thinks fit.”,

(c)

in the title to that section, for “Advisory Committee” substitute “ Representations to SNH ”,

(d)

in section 58(1) (interpretation), the definition “Advisory Committee” is repealed,

(e)

in schedule 1 (notification relating to sites of special scientific interest: procedure)—

(i)

in paragraph 9(b), for “refer the matter to the Advisory Committee” substitute “ consider the matter, ”,

(ii)

in paragraph 9, for “paragraphs (a) and (b)” substitute “ paragraph (a) ”,

(iii)

for the title to paragraph 9, substitute “ Representations to SNH on sites of special scientific interest ”,

(iv)

paragraph 11 is repealed,

(v)

in paragraph 12(a), for “a matter has been referred to the Advisory Committee” substitute “ SNH is required by subsection (8) of section 21 to consider a matter, ”.

(4)

In the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 13), in Part 7 of schedule 1 (Scottish public authorities), the paragraph relating to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest is repealed.

(5)

In the Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 4), in schedule 2 (the specified authorities), the entry relating to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest is repealed.