Scotland Act 2012

Scotland Act 2012

2012 CHAPTER 11

Commentary on Sections (and Schedules)

Part 3: Finance

Section 33: Reports on the implementation and operation of this Part

189. Subsections (1) and (3) require the Secretary of State to publish a report on the implementation and operation of Part 3 of the Act (that is, the provisions relating to finance) within a period of one year beginning with the day on which the Act is passed and thereafter an annual report until 2020 or, if later, until a year after the tax and borrowing powers are fully transferred to the Scottish Parliament (see subsection (4)). Copies of such reports must be laid before both Houses of Parliament and sent to Scottish Ministers, who must lay the reports before the Scottish Parliament.

190. Subsections (2) and (3) require Scottish Ministers to make and lay reports of the same kind before the Scottish Parliament on an annual basis and to provide a copy of each report to the Secretary of State to lay before both Houses of Parliament.

191. Subsection (5) sets out the areas that each report must include. These are: an update on all aspects of progress towards the commencement of provisions in Part 3 of the Act since the previous report, detail of any steps towards commencement which the maker of the report proposes should be taken, an assessment of the operation of the provisions which have been commenced, an assessment of the operation of powers to devolve taxes to the Scottish Parliament or changes to the powers of the Scottish Ministers to borrow, or of any other changes to the finance provisions in this Act, the effect of transferring tax powers on the Scottish block grant and any other matters concerning sources of revenue for the Scottish Administration which the maker of the report considers should be brought to the attention of the UK or Scottish Parliaments.