The Act
3.The Act is in seven Parts:
	Part 1 alters the release arrangements for adult mandatory life prisoners to bring them into line with the arrangements for other categories of life prisoner.  Parts 1 to 5 of the schedule to the Act contain transitional provisions for existing life prisoners and existing transferred life prisoners.
	Part 2relates to the constitution of the Parole Board for Scotland.  It introduces statutory tenure for Parole Board members to ensure that the Board, when sitting as a tribunal, complies with Article 6 of the ECHR as an "independent and impartial tribunal".  Appointments would be made by the Scottish Ministers in accordance with procedures to be specified in regulations and a tribunal would be established to consider the removal of Board members.  Part 6 of the schedule to the Act contains transitional provisions for existing Parole Board members.
	Part 3relates to legal aid in Scotland.  It amends the legal aid fixed payments scheme for summary criminal cases to allow for the payment of "time and line" fees for a small number of exceptional and complex cases.  It also amends the powers of the Scottish Ministers to make provision that would enable the Scottish Legal Aid Board to grant legal aid for proceedings determining civil rights and obligations where legal assistance was required to comply with Article 6 of ECHR.  Technical amendments are also made to the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 to enable the Scottish Legal Aid Board to directly employ solicitors under Part V of the 1986 Act to provide legal assistance in summary criminal cases when necessary.
	Part 4 repeals a provision in the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 which states that a homosexual act will be unlawful where the act takes place in private if more than two persons take part or are present.
	Part 5amends the Lyon King of Arms Act 1867 to transfer from the Lord Lyon to the Scottish Ministers the power to appoint the Procurator Fiscal of the Lyon Court.
	Part 6 confers a new power on the Scottish Ministers under which they are able to make remedial orders to remedy actual or perceived incompatibilities with ECHR.
	Part 7makes provision for the short title and commencement of the Act.