Part II: General exceptions
Paragraph 7 provides that the restrictions in Part I do not prevent ASPs from restating the law (e.g. in a consolidation Act) or repealing spent enactments, or conferring power by subordinate legislation to do so. It also provides that the “law on reserved matters” (which is protected by paragraph 2) includes any such restatement of the law on reserved matters if the subject-matter of the restatement is a reserved matter. This is necessary to ensure that the Parliament is able to consolidate or codify the law.
Paragraph 8 provides that Part I does not prevent the operation of any provision of the Interpretation Act 1978. This is necessary, in particular, to ensure that section 17(2)(a) of the 1978 Act applies. That section provides where an Act repeals and re-enacts a previous enactment and unless the contrary intention appears any reference in any other enactment to the repealed enactment shall be construed as one to the re-enacted provision, and that subordinate legislation, or other things done under the repealed enactment, are to have effect as if made or done under the re-enacted provision.
Paragraph 9 provides that Part I does not prevent the consequential amendment of various titles (of registers, courts, tribunals, judges, chairman or offices of courts or tribunals, or holders of offices in the Scottish Administration which are not Ministerial offices or members of the staff of the Scottish Administration), or consequential amendments to any reference to a declarator.
Paragraph 10 provides that Part I does not prevent the modification of enactments for or in connection with the purposes of section 70 (financial control, accounts and audit) or 91 (maladministration). In particular, this ensures that the necessity test in paragraphs 2 and 3 does not unduly limit the competence of the Parliament to fulfil the requirements of those sections.
Paragraph 11 contains provision to ensure that the restrictions in Part I do not unduly limit the competence of the Parliament to legislate about its own subordinate legislation procedure. This is necessary, in particular, to ensure that the “necessity test” in paragraphs 2 and 3 does not prevent such legislation in relation to powers transferred to the Scottish Ministers under section 63 to make subordinate legislation in relation to reserved matters.