Legal background Legal services – SSDT’s financial sanctions in respect of economic crime
Currently the SSDT may impose a maximum financial penalty of £10,000, as set out in the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980, section 53(2)(c). 1
	This maximum penalty may be amended by statutory instrument, only where such an amendment can be "justified by a change in the value of money". 2 Any such change would be restricted to a value adjusted for inflation. The value of £10,000 was inserted by the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990. As an estimate, the value adjusted for inflation may now be around £20,000. Therefore, to amend the maximum financial penalty of the SSDT, it is considered that primary legislation is required.