National Library of Scotland Act 1925 (repealed)

Sections 1 and 13.

SCHEDULE U.K. Constitution and Proceedings of Board

[F1 1 The Board shall consist of thirty-two members, of whom eleven shall be ex-officio members, sixteen shall be appointed as hereinafter provided, and five, being persons of eminence in literature or public life, not otherwise members of the Board, shall be co-opted by the Trustees.

The ex-officio members shall consist of the following persons:—

• The Lord President of the Court of Session;

• The Lord Advocate;

• The Secretary of State;

• The Dean of the Faculty of Advocates;

• The Minister of the High Kirk (St. Giles), Edinburgh;

• The Member of Parliament for Edinburgh Central;

• The Lord Provost of Edinburgh;

• The Lord Provost of Glasgow;

• The Lord Provost of Dundee;

• The Lord Provost of Aberdeen;

• The Queen’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer.

• Of the appointed members:—

  • Five shall be persons appointed by Her Majesty on the recommendation of the Secretary of State, one of whom at least shall be representative of organised labour;

  • Five shall be persons appointed by the Faculty;

  • Four shall be persons appointed jointly by the Scottish universities; and

  • Two shall be persons appointed by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. para. 1 substituted by the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985 (c.16, SIF 78), s. 18(5)

2 U.K. The members of the Board appointed by His Majesty shall hold office during His Majesty’s pleasure, and one of those members, nominated by His Majesty in that behalf, shall act as chairman of the Board.

The period of office of the other appointed members and of the co-opted members of the Board shall be five years from the date of appointment, or from the date on which the appointment is expressed to take effect: Provided that, in the case of the five members appointed by the Faculty, and in the case of the five co-opted members, the first appointments shall be for the respective periods of one, two, three, four and five years; and that, in the case of the four members appointed by the Senatus Academicus of the Universities, the first appointments shall be for the respective periods of one, two, three, and four years, in the order of the seniority of the Universities; and the periods of office of the members first appointed or first co-opted as aforesaid shall determine accordingly.

3 U.K. If any vacancy occurs by death, resignation, or any other cause other than effluxion of time, the vacancy shall be filled by His Majesty, or by the appropriate appointing body, or by the Trustees, as the case may be, and a person so appointed or co-opted to fill a vacancy shall hold office so long only as the member in whose place he is appointed or co-opted would have held office.

4 U.K. Any Trustee ceasing to hold office shall be eligible to be again appointed or co-opted.

5 U.K. The Board may appoint one of the Trustees to be vice-chairman of the Board, and in the absence of the chairman, the vice-chairman shall preside at meetings of the board. In the absence of the chairman and vice-chairman, the Trustees present at a meeting may appoint one of their number to preside thereat. The chairman, vice-chairman, or Trustee presiding at any meeting shall have a casting as well as a deliberative vote.

6 U.K. The Board may make regulations—

(a) for issuing notices relating to the appointment (other than the first appointments) of members of the Board, and for convening meetings (other than the first meeting) of the Board; and

(b) for regulating the proceedings (including the quorum) of the Board; and

(c) for enabling the Board to constitute committees, and to include as members of committees persons who are not members of the Board; and

(d) for authorising the delegation to committees of all or any of the powers of the Board (other than the power to acquire or dispose of land), and for regulating the proceedings (including the quorum) of committees.

7 U.K. The powers of the Board may be exercised notwithstanding any vacancy in their number.

[F2 8 (1) The Board shall keep proper accounts and proper records in relation to them.

(2) The Board shall prepare, in accordance with best commercial practice, a statement of accounts in respect of each financial year.

(3) The statement shall comply with any directions given by the Secretary of State with the Treasury’s consent as to the information to be contained in the statement, the manner in which the information is to be presented or the methods and principles according to which the statement is to be prepared.

(4) The Board shall send the statement to the Secretary of State at such time as he may direct.

(5) The Secretary of State shall, on or before 31st August in any year, send to the Comptroller and Auditor General the statement prepared by the Board under sub-paragraph (2) for the financial year last ended.

(6) The Comptroller and Auditor General shall examine, certify and report on the statement sent to him under sub-paragraph (5) and shall lay copies of it and of his report before each House of Parliament.

(7) In this paragraph “financial year” means the period of 12 months ending with 31st March each year.]

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. para. 8 added by National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985 (c.16, SIF 78), s. 18(6)