Purpose and Effect
Part I of the Sheriff Courts and Legal Officers (Scotland) Act 1927 makes provision as to the appointment of sheriff clerks, procurators fiscal and their deputies.
The provisions of Part I of the 1927 are, by virtue of paragraph 8(2)(a) of Part I of Schedule 5, not reserved and some Ministerial functions conferred by Part I of that Act transferred to the Scottish Ministers under section 53, and section 55(1) of the Scotland Act will provide for Treasury consent requirements not to apply to the exercise of those functions by the Scottish Ministers.
However, this does not apply in relation the functions conferred by Part I of the 1927 Act on the Lord Advocate in relation to the appointment of procurators fiscal and their deputies. These will remain part of the retained functions of the Lord Advocate but it is not intended that the Lord Advocate should have to exercise them subject to consultation with the Treasury. Therefore, this paragraph removes the need for consultation with the Treasury on decisions about the appointment, numbers and salary levels of procurators fiscal and their deputies. The amendments will, however, as a consequence also repeal such Treasury consent requirements in relation to the appointment, numbers and salary levels of sheriff clerks and their deputies.