Scotland Act 1998 Explanatory Notes

Purpose and Effect

The section provides that it is for the Presiding Officer to submit Bills for Royal Assent but prohibits him from doing so in certain circumstances. He cannot do so during the time when the Law Officers may refer it to the Judicial Committee under section 33, if the Judicial Committee is deciding a reference on it or the Secretary of State may intervene under section 35. The Presiding Officer may also not submit a Bill for Royal Assent in its original form if the Judicial Committee decides that the Bill or a provision of it are outside the Parliament’s competence or if the reference is withdrawn under section 34(2)(b) so that the Parliament may reconsider it.

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