(1)There shall continue to be a body to be known as the Parole Board for Scotland, which shall discharge the functions conferred on it by, or by virtue of, this Part of this Act.
(2)It shall be the duty of the Board to advise the Secretary of State with respect to any matter referred to it by him which is connected with the early release or recall of prisoners.
(3)The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the Board, by order provide that, in relation to such class of case as may be specified in the order, this Act shall have effect subject to the modifications that—
(a)in subsection (3) of section 1, for the word “may” there shall be substituted the word “shall” so however that nothing in this paragraph shall affect the operation of that subsection as it has effect in relation to a long-term prisoner who is liable to removal from the United Kingdom (within the meaning of section 9 of this Act);
(b)in section 12—
(i)in subsection (3)(a), after the words “licence of a” there shall be inserted the words “long-term or”; and
(ii)subsection (4) shall be omitted; and
(c)in section 17(1)(a), for the word “may” there shall be substituted the word “shall”.
(4)The Secretary of State may by rules make provision with respect to the proceedings of the Board, including provision—
(a)authorising cases to be dealt with in whole or in part by a prescribed number of members of the Board in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed;
(b)requiring cases to be dealt with at prescribed times; and
(c)as to what matters may be taken into account by the Board (or by such number) in dealing with a case.
(5)The Secretary of State may give the Board directions as to the matters to be taken into account by it in discharging its functions under this Part of this Act; and in giving any such directions the Secretary of State shall in particular have regard to—
(a)the need to protect the public from serious harm from offenders; and
(b)the desirability of preventing the commission by offenders of further offences and of securing their rehabilitation.
(6)The supplementary provisions in Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the Board.