Overview and Background Part 2 – Environment Interpretation of Chapter 2 Section 44 - Meaning of “environmental law” and “effectiveness of environmental law”
164.Section 44 provides definitions of “environmental law” and “effectiveness of environmental law” for the purposes of this Chapter.
165.Subsection (1) defines “environmental law” as any legislative provision that is mainly concerned with environmental protection and is not concerned with an excluded matter. Subsection (2) sets out excluded matters. Subsection (3) sets out the meaning of “legislative provision” as provision contained in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament, and provision contained in any other enactment that would be within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.
166.Subsection (4) to (6) provide for the Scottish Ministers to make regulations to set out that a legislative provision is, or is not, within the definition of “environmental law”. Regulations under subsection (4) are subject to the affirmative procedure. The Scottish Ministers must consult Environmental Standards Scotland, and any other persons they consider appropriate, before laying a draft of such regulations before the Scottish Parliament for approval.
167.Subsection (7) defines “effectiveness of environmental law” and “effective environmental law” in terms of the law’s effectiveness in achieving its intended effect by reference to its contribution to environmental protection as well as to improving the health and wellbeing of Scotland’s people, and achieving sustainable economic growth, so far as consistent with environmental protection, and also its effectiveness in contributing to the implementation of any international obligation of the United Kingdom relating to environmental protection.