Scotland Act 1998

Part I U.K. Preliminary

1 U.K. In this Schedule “devolution issue” means—

(a) a question whether an Act of the Scottish Parliament or any provision of an Act of the Scottish Parliament is within the legislative competence of the Parliament,

(b) a question whether any function (being a function which any person has purported, or is proposing, to exercise) is a function of the Scottish Ministers, the First Minister or the Lord Advocate,

(c) a question whether the purported or proposed exercise of a function by a member of the Scottish Executive is, or would be, within devolved competence,

(d) a question whether a purported or proposed exercise of a function by a member of the Scottish Executive is, or would be, incompatible with any of the Convention rights or [F1 in breach of the restriction in section 57(4)],

(e) a question whether a failure to act by a member of the Scottish Executive is incompatible with any of the Convention rightsF2 ...,

(f) any other question about whether a function is exercisable within devolved competence or in or as regards Scotland and any other question arising by virtue of this Act about reserved matters.

[F3 But a question arising in criminal proceedings in Scotland that would, apart from this paragraph, be a devolution issue is not a devolution issue if (however formulated) it relates to [F4 a compatibility issue (within the meaning given by section 288ZA(2) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995)].]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 6 para. 1 substituted (31.12.2020) by European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16), s. 25(4), Sch. 3 para. 23(2) (with s. 19, Sch. 8 para. 37); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 3(l) (with reg. 10)

F2 Words in Sch. 6 para. 1 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16), s. 25(4), Sch. 3 para. 23(3) (with s. 19, Sch. 8 para. 37); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 3(l) (with regs. 10, 22)

F3 Words in Sch. 6 para. 1 inserted (22.4.2013) by Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 36(4), 44(5); S.I. 2013/6, art. 2(c)

F4 Words in Sch. 6 para. 1 substituted (31.12.2020) by European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16), s. 25(4), Sch. 3 para. 23(4) (with s. 19, Sch. 8 para. 37); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 3(l) (with reg. 10)

2 U.K. A devolution issue shall not be taken to arise in any proceedings merely because of any contention of a party to the proceedings which appears to the court or tribunal before which the proceedings take place to be frivolous or vexatious.