Overview of the Act Duty of the Scottish Ministers in respect of legislation Section 14 – Duty of the Scottish ministers to have regard to request for retrospective island communities impact assessment
35.This section allows a local authority listed in the schedule of the Act to request the Scottish Ministers to prepare and publish a retrospective island communities impact assessment. The request may apply in relation to existing legislation (primary or secondary legislation made in the Scottish Parliament) or national strategies, where they have a significantly different effect on island communities. Under section 14, Minsters have 3 months to approve the request or to give reasons for rejecting it and, if approved, another 6 months to prepare the assessment. Any assessment prepared must describe methods and steps to rectify, mitigate or improve the effect of the legislation or strategy.