This section is part of a set dealing with the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament. Section 28 provides for the Parliament to be able to make laws known as Acts of the Scottish Parliament (ASPs). Section 29 limits the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament to make ASPs. Sections 31 to 36 make provision for the scrutiny of the vires of Bills of the Scottish Parliament and for associated procedural matters. Schedule 4 sets out restrictions on modification of a number of enactments and rules of law. Schedule 5 defines reserved matters.
This section provides a power to modify the legislative competence of the Parliament by making modifications to Schedules 4 and 5 and by deeming functions to be or not to be exercisable in or as regards Scotland. This power is exercisable by Her Majesty by Order in Council. Further provision about the making of an Order in Council under section 30 is to be found in sections 112 to 115 and Schedule 7. In particular, section 114(3) provides that it may have retrospective effect and Schedule 7 provides that it is subject to Type A procedure, namely that it is subject to affirmative resolution in both the UK and Scottish Parliaments.
Section 30 therefore permits certain alterations to be made to the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament but only with the agreement of both Parliaments. This is the only way in which the Scotland Act envisages that subordinate legislation under that Act can modify Schedules 4 and 5. The Westminster Parliament could, of course, make such alterations unilaterally by virtue of its sovereignty (section 28(7)).
Under section 30(3), an Order in Council may be made specifying functions which are to be treated as being or not being exercisable in or as regards Scotland for different purposes of the Act such as sections 53 and 63.
However, before a function can be specified in such an Order in Council as being exercisable in or as regards Scotland, it must be capable of being exercisable separately in or as regards Scotland. Where this is not already the case, section 106 enables an Order in Council to be made to modify a function to make it so exercisable for the purpose of enabling or facilitating its transfer to the Scottish Ministers. This power was exercised in the Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Functions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1756) and in the Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Functions) Order 2000 (S.I. 2000/1458).
Commentary General