Commentary on provisions of Act Section 12: Scope to amend Scotland Act 1998
Section 12 amends Schedule 4 of the Scotland Act 1998 ("the 1998 Act").
	Subsection (2) substitutes a new sub-paragraph 4(2) which means that the ability of an Act of the Scottish Parliament to modify, or to confer power by subordinate legislation to modify, provisions of the 1998 Act is extended to provisions which relate to the operation of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government.
	New sub-paragraph 4(2)(a) of Schedule 4 will enable the Scottish Parliament to amend, or to confer the power to amend by subordinate legislation, certain provisions in Part 1 of the 1998 Act (the Scottish Parliament) in relation to matters relating to the administration of the Scottish Parliament, including certain arrangements for elections to the Scottish Parliament; the terms of office, resignation and disqualification for Members of the Scottish Parliament; members’ interests; the role of the Presiding Officer and Clerk of the Parliament; Letters Patent and proclamations; and certain proceedings of the Parliament.
	New sub-paragraph 4(2)(b) of Schedule 4 will enable the Scottish Parliament to amend, or to confer the power to amend by subordinate legislation, certain provisions in Part 2 of the 1998 Act (the Scottish Administration) in relation to matters relating to the administration of the Scottish Government, including certain matters concerning its membership and certain matters concerning the appointment and removal of ministers.
	New sub-paragraph 4(2)(c) of Schedule 4 will enable the Scottish Parliament to amend, or to confer the power to amend by subordinate legislation, certain provisions relating to the Auditor General for Scotland and financial controls, accounts and audit. The power of the Scottish Parliament to amend Part 4 of the 1998 Act (financial provisions) is unchanged. The power of the Scottish Parliament to amend Part 4A of the 1998 Act (taxation) is also unchanged.
	New sub-paragraph 4(2)(d) of Schedule 4 will enable the Scottish Parliament to amend, or to confer the power to amend by subordinate legislation, certain provisions of Part 5 of the 1998 Act (miscellaneous and general) in relation to matters including the remuneration of members of the Parliament and Government and arrangements for investigating complaints of maladministration.
	New sub-paragraph 4(2)(e) of Schedule 4 will enable the Scottish Parliament to amend, or to confer the power to amend by subordinate legislation, certain provisions of Part 6 of the 1998 Act (supplementary), including Schedule 7, in relation to the powers of Scottish Ministers to make subordinate legislation, and other matters such as accounts and audits and the laying of reports before Parliament.
	New sub-paragraph 4(2)(f) of Schedule 4 will enable the Scottish Parliament to amend, or to confer the power to amend by subordinate legislation, Schedule 1 to the 1998 Act, which makes provision for the constituencies and regions for elections to the Scottish Parliament and the number of regional members of the Scottish Parliament.
	New sub-paragraph 4(2)(g) of Schedule 4 will enable the Scottish Parliament to amend, or to confer the power to amend by subordinate legislation, certain matters contained in Schedule 2 to the 1998 Act, which makes provision about the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, including matters such as the property, staff and business of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.
	New sub-paragraph 4(2)(h) of Schedule 4 will enable the Scottish Parliament to amend, or to confer the power to amend by subordinate legislation, certain matters contained in Schedule 3 to the 1998 Act, which makes provision as to how certain matters are to be dealt with by standing order, including matters such as the preservation of order, the withdrawal of rights and privileges, and the proceedings to be held in public.
	Subsection (3) amends the type of procedure to which orders under section 97 of the 1998 Act are subject.