legislation

Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005

The primary policy objective of this Act is to improve the protection given to children and young people from those who would wish to cause them sexual harm, or exploit them for sexual purposes. The Act also aims to improve the protection given to adults and children alike from those convicted of sexual offences who still pose a risk of sexual harm.

Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004

This Act of Scottish Parliament applies to primary medical services. The Act is in two main parts (Provision of primary medical services and General) and 9 sections with a schedule. The sections in Part 1 look at the functions of Health Boards; the provision of primary medical services; revocation of power to make pilot schemes; persons performing primary medical services as well as assistance and support. Part 2 of the Act covers ancillary provision; modification of enactments and also includes a commencement and short title.

Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004

This Act of the Scottish Parliament relating to Criminal Procedure, is in four parts.

Part 1 deals with court procedures as they relate to the High Court of Justiciary.

Part 2 relates to trials in the High Court and the sheriff court. It also amends the time limits and citation provisions which are common to both courts.

Part 3 amends the provisions of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 in relation to bail.

Marriage (Scotland) Act 2002

The present law of marriage in Scotland is governed by the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977. The current position is that there is no restriction on places where religious marriages may be solemnised but a civil (non-religious) marriage may be solemnised only within a registration office, unless there are exceptional circumstances (i.e. where an individual is unable to attend a registration office as a result of serious illness or serious bodily injury and there is a good reason why the marriage cannot be delayed.

Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003

This Act of Scottish Parliament is in twelve parts: protection of the public at large; victims' rights; sexual offences; prisoners; drugs courts; non-custodial punishments; children; evidential, jurisdictional and procedural matters; bribery and corruption; criminal records; local authority functions; and a miscellaneous part which includes sections on offences aggravated by religious prejudice, wildlife offences and anti-social behaviour strategies.

Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001

This Act of Scottish Parliament establishes a new independent body to regulate care services in Scotland to be known as the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care ('The Commission'). It also establishes a system of care regulation, encompassing the registration and inspection of care services against a set of national care standards and the taking of any enforcement action; a new independent body, to be known as the Scottish Social Services Council ('The Council') to regulate social service workers and to promote and regulate their education and training.

Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002

This Act of Scottish Parliament is in four parts. Part 1 covers Community Care, which includes charging and not charging for social care, accommodation, direct payments and carers. Part 2 looks at Joint Working and relationships between NHS bodies and local authorities. Part 3 relates to Health, specifically Health Boards' Lists. Part 4 is a General section outlining regulations, guidance and directions.

Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Act 2005

Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves procedures which include the partial or total removal of the external female genital organs for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons. FGM has been a specific criminal offence in the UK since the passage of the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 repealed and re-enacted the provisions of the 1985 Act, gave them extra-territorial effect and increased the maximum penalty for FGM.

National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Act 2004

This Act of Scottish Parliament brings forward legislation to reform the National Health Service by introducing provisions in relation to the dissolution of NHS Trusts; establishing Community Health Partnerships; placing a duty on Health Boards to co-operate with each other; extending Ministerial powers to intervene to secure the quality of healthcare services; placing a duty on Health Boards and Special Health Boards to involve the public in the planning, development and operation of health services; and placing a duty on the Scottish Ministers and Health Boards to take action to promote h