This section provides for the commencement by order of certain of the provisions in the Act and for subordinate legislation to make transitory and transitional provision in connection with the commencement.
This section governs the commencement of the provisions of the Act, other than sections 1 to 18, 112 to 116 and 125 to 132, Schedule 7 and certain provisions in Schedule 8. These sections and Schedules, which mainly relate to the elections to the Scottish Parliament, the making of subordinate legislation, commencement interpretation, extent and the short title, came into force immediately on Royal Assent.
| Stage | Date | Column |
|---|---|---|
| LR | 3-Nov-98 | 261 |
| L3 | 9-Nov-98 | 602 |
Subsection (1) provides that sections 19 to 43, Parts II to V (sections 44 to 111) and sections 117 to 124 and section 125 (in relation to certain provisions in Schedule 8) are to come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order appoint. This order is not subject to any Parliamentary procedure. Section 126 provides for a day appointed by such an order to be designated as the principal appointed day. This is of relevance for the interpretation of references to enactments in Schedule 5, as provided for by Part III of that Schedule.
Subsection (2) provides that different days may be appointed for different purposes.
This power has been exercised by the Secretary of State in making the Scotland Act 1998 (Commencement) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/3178).
This section sets out the extent of the Act.
The Act in general extends to the whole of the United Kingdom.
This section makes an exception for section 25. That section creates an offence in connection with the power of the Parliament to summon persons or require documents and extends to Scotland only.