European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

Further explanatory statements in certain sub-delegation cases

31 (1) This paragraph applies where—

(a) a Scottish statutory instrument containing regulations under Part 1 or 2 of Schedule 2 or paragraph 1 of Schedule 4 which create a relevant sub-delegated power, or

(b) a draft of such an instrument,

is to be laid before the Scottish Parliament.

(2) Before the instrument or draft is laid, the Scottish Ministers must make a statement explaining why it is appropriate to create a relevant sub-delegated power.

(3) If the Scottish Ministers fail to make a statement required by sub-paragraph (2) before the instrument or draft is laid, the Scottish Ministers must make a statement explaining why they have failed to do so.

(4) A statement under sub-paragraph (2) or (3) must be made in writing and be published in such manner as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

(5) For the purposes of this paragraph references to creating a relevant sub-delegated power include (among other things) references to—

(a) amending a power to legislate which is exercisable by Scottish statutory instrument by a member of the Scottish Government so that it becomes a relevant sub-delegated power, or

(b) providing for any function of an EU entity or public authority in a member State of making an instrument of a legislative character to be exercisable instead as a relevant sub-delegated power by a public authority in the United Kingdom.

(6) In this paragraph “relevant sub-delegated power” means a power to legislate which—

(a) is not exercisable by Scottish statutory instrument, or

(b) is so exercisable by a public authority other than a member of the Scottish Government.