The Act Part 2 – Order-Making Powers Section 14 - Public functions: efficiency, effectiveness and economy
27.This section enables the Scottish Ministers, by order, to make any provision which they consider would improve the exercise of public functions by the bodies listed in schedule 5 (including the Scottish Ministers) having regard to efficiency, effectiveness and economy.
28.In this context, ‘public functions’ means the functions of the persons, bodies and office-holders listed in schedule 5, subject to any limitations specified in that schedule. The list in schedule 5 includes the Scottish Ministers and any other office-holder in the Scottish Administration, certain Scottish public authorities with mixed or no reserved functions, and a cross-border public authority with mixed functions (the Forestry Commissioners).
29.An order under this section may, for example, reconfigure the way (and means by which) certain functions are delivered. In particular, the order may include, but is not limited to, provision modifying, conferring, abolishing, transferring or providing for the delegation of any function (including, subject to section 16, new functions). The power is not however exercisable in relation to local authorities, except that functions may be transferred or delegated to local authorities (including fire and police authorities).
30.An order made under this section may also amend the constitution of, or dissolve, a body listed in schedule 5 other than the Scottish Ministers, Scottish Court Service, cross-border public authorities, companies and any person listed by virtue of section 15(5)(e); but a body cannot be dissolved unless it has, or will have by virtue of the order, no exercisable functions. The order may also create a new person, body or office-holder on which functions are conferred, or to which functions are transferred or may be delegated.