Scotland Act 2016

65 Office of Communications

(1) Section 1 of the Office of Communications Act 2002 (the Office of Communications) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (3) after paragraph (a) insert—

“(aa) a member appointed by the Scottish Ministers;”.

(3) After subsection (3) insert—

“(3A) Before appointing a member under subsection (3)(aa) the Scottish Ministers must consult the Secretary of State.”

(4) In subsection (5) after “(3)(a)” insert “, (aa)”.

(5) After subsection (10) insert—

“(11) Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Schedule apply in relation to the appointment made under subsection (3)(aa) as if—

(a) any reference to the Secretary of State was to the Scottish Ministers, and

(b) after paragraph 2(6) there were inserted—

“(7) Before the Scottish Ministers remove a person from office they must consult the Secretary of State.””

(6) The Schedule to the Office of Communications Act 2002 is amended as follows.

(7) In paragraph 11(3) (accounts and audit)—

(a) omit “and” at the end of paragraph (a), and

(b) at the end of paragraph (b) insert “, and

(c) send a copy of the statement and of his report to the Scottish Ministers.”

(8) After paragraph 11(3) insert—

“(4) The Scottish Ministers shall lay a copy of the statement and report sent to them under sub-paragraph (3) before the Scottish Parliament.”

(9) In paragraph 12 (annual report)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1) after “Secretary of State” insert “and the Scottish Ministers”, and

(b) after sub-paragraph (3) insert—

“(4) The Scottish Ministers shall lay a copy of every report sent to them under this paragraph before the Scottish Parliament.”

(10) In article 2(2) of the Public Appointments Order in Council 2014 (interpretation) in paragraph (a) of the definition of “appointing authority” after “as the case may be,” insert “the Scottish Ministers,”.