The Act Part 5 – Other Climate Change Provisions Power to modify functions of Forestry Commissioners
108.Subsection (1) of section 59 allows the Scottish Ministers, by order, to modify the functions of the Forestry Commissioners in or as regards Scotland. Subsection (2) provides that such modifications may be made only where the Scottish Ministers consider it necessary or expedient to allow them to comply with their duties under sections 1, 2(1) or 3(1)(b) of the Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or more generally in relation to climate change.
109.Subsection (3) provides that the order may modify the Forestry Commissioners’ functions to allow them to form or participate in corporate bodies or trusts.
110.Subsection (4) imposes the duty in section 1 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 on any body corporate or trust established by the Forestry Commissioners by virtue of an order under subsection (1).
111.Section 96 makes more general provision in relation to the power to make an order under section 59, and makes provision as to the parliamentary procedure for such an order. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 96 provide that an order made by the Scottish Ministers under section 59 may make different provision for different cases or purposes, or make any appropriate consequential, incidental, supplementary, transitory, transitional or saving provision, including modification of any enactment. Section 96(4) provides that an order made under section 59 is subject to affirmative resolution procedure.