Scotland Act 1998

E10474

The Scotland Act 1998 is a key piece of UK legislation that established devolved government in Scotland by creating the Scottish Parliament and defining its powers.


Statements (59)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom
constitutional statute
allocatesPowerTo Scottish Government
surface form: "Scottish Ministers"

Scottish Parliament
citation 1998 c. 46
constitutionalSignificance alters the constitutional arrangements within the United Kingdom
foundational statute of Scottish devolution
containsSchedule Schedule 4
Schedule 5
country United Kingdom
createdBody Scottish Government
surface form: "Scottish Executive"

Scottish Government
Scottish Parliament
defines devolved matters in Scotland
reserved matters for the UK Parliament
establishes executive competence of the Scottish Ministers
legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament
inspiredBy 1997 Scottish devolution referendum
introducedBy UK government
surface form: "UK Government"
jurisdiction Scotland
language English
legalEffect preserves the sovereignty of the UK Parliament
transfers specified legislative powers from the UK Parliament to the Scottish Parliament
longTitle An Act to provide for the establishment of a Scottish Parliament and Administration and other changes in the government of Scotland; to provide for the variation of the basic rate of income tax in relation to income of Scottish taxpayers; and for connected purposes.
parliament British Parliament
surface form: "Parliament of the United Kingdom"
politicalContext implemented the Labour Government’s devolution policy under Prime Minister Tony Blair
primaryPurpose to create the Scottish Parliament
to define the powers of the Scottish Parliament
to establish a devolved legislature for Scotland
to establish the Scottish Executive
providesFor Scottish Executive accountability
Scottish Executive formation
Scottish Executive functions
Scottish Parliament elections
devolution of powers to Scotland
membership of the Scottish Parliament
procedures of the Scottish Parliament
variation of the basic rate of income tax for Scottish taxpayers
relatedTo Government of Wales Act 1998
Northern Ireland Act 1998
Scotland Act 2012
Scotland Act 2016
royalAssentDate 1998-11-19
scheduleSubject Schedule 4 limits modification of the Act and certain enactments
Schedule 5 lists reserved matters
sectionSubject Section 28 provides for Acts of the Scottish Parliament
Section 29 defines legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament
Section 30 allows modification of legislative competence by Order in Council
Section 31 requires statements on legislative competence
Section 33 allows Law Officers to refer Bills to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Section 35 allows the Secretary of State to intervene in certain Bills
Section 44 establishes the Scottish Executive
Section 45 provides for appointment of the First Minister
Section 47 provides for the Scottish Law Officers
Section 57 deals with acts of the Scottish Ministers and compatibility with Convention rights and EU law (as originally enacted)
shortTitle Scotland Act 1998
status in force, as amended
territorialExtent Scotland
yearEnacted 1998

Referenced by (21)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Scotland Act 2012 amends Scotland Act 1998
Scotland Act 2016 amends Scotland Act 1998
subject surface form: "Cabinet Secretary for Transport or Infrastructure"
this entity surface form: "Scotland Act 1998 (devolution framework)"
Advocate General for Scotland createdBy Scotland Act 1998
First Minister of Scotland createdBy Scotland Act 1998
MSP createdBy Scotland Act 1998
Scottish Government createdBy Scotland Act 1998
Scottish Parliament createdBy Scotland Act 1998
Parlamaid na h-Alba establishedBy Scotland Act 1998
Angus South governingLaw Scotland Act 1998
Constitution of the United Kingdom includes Scotland Act 1998
Cabinet Secretaries legalBasis Scotland Act 1998
subject surface form: "Cabinet Secretaries (Scottish Government)"
this entity surface form: "Scotland Act 1998 and subsequent legislation"
Scottish Government legalBasis Scotland Act 1998
Northern Ireland Act 1998 relatedTo Scotland Act 1998
Scotland Act 1998 shortTitle Scotland Act 1998

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