General
This section forms part of the set dealing with the conferral of functions upon members of the Scottish Executive. Section 53 makes provision for the transfer of Ministerial functions exercisable within devolved competence. Some of those functions can only be exercised with the consent of, or after consultation with, another Minister of the Crown, such as the Treasury.
There are two reasons for dispensing with these requirements when the functions are exercised by the Scottish Ministers. Firstly, it would in general be inappropriate for these controls to continue to apply when the Scottish Ministers are exercising those functions. Secondly, in many cases, the function of being consulted, or of giving agreement, would have itself transferred to the Scottish Ministers and it would be confusing to require Scottish Ministers to consult or agree with themselves.
This section therefore dispenses with these requirements. An exception is made for functions under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 of designating enterprise zones. This reflects the need for continuing Treasury oversight of the tax privileges conferred by the grant of enterprise zone status.