Subsection (1) provides that Schedule 5 (which defines reserved matters) shall have effect. Under section 29(2)(b) a provision in an ASP which relates to reserved matters is outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.
Subsection (2) provides that Her Majesty may by Order in Council modify Schedules 4 or 5 in ways which She considers necessary or expedient.
This power has been exercised in the Scotland Act 1998 (Modifications of Schedules 4 and 5) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1749), the Scotland Act 1998 (Modifications of Schedule 4) Order 2000 (S.I. 2000/1831), the Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2000 (S.I. 2000/3252) and the Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2001(S.I. 2001/1456).
Subsection (3) provides that Her Majesty may by Order in Council specify functions which are to be treated, for such purposes of this Act as may be specified, as being, or as not being, functions which are exercisable in or as regards Scotland. See the general note above and the note on section 29(2)(a).
Section 30 (3) was inserted into the Bill principally for the purpose of enabling provision to be made to make it clear which Ministerial functions relating to the regulation of sea fisheries outside Scotland would transfer to the Scottish Ministers under section 53 and what would be the competence of the Scottish Parliament to confer or remove such functions from them - see H.L. Deb 21 July 1998 vol. 592 col. 835 et seq. This was given effect to in the Scotland Act 1998 (Functions Exercisable in or as Regards Scotland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1748). That Order also made provision in respect of functions relating to prisoners, agriculture and marine dredging.
The power has also been exercised for the purposes of section 63 which makes provision for an Order in Council to transfer additional functions which are exercisable in or as regards Scotland to the Scottish Ministers including functions relating to reserved matters examples include article 2 of the Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 2000 (S.I. 2000/1563) and article 2 of the Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) (No. 2) Order 2000 (S.I. 2000/3253).
Subsection (4) provides that an Order in Council under this section may also make such modifications of any enactments, prerogative instruments, other instruments or documents as is considered necessary or expedient in connection with other provision made by the Order. This includes any enactment in or made under the Scotland Act.
Commentary Details of Provisions