Bills and Laws

Legislative Consent Memorandums

The UK Parliament sometimes considers a Bill (draft law) that relates to devolved matters, or that alters the Scottish Parliament’s “legislative competence” (its power to make laws) or the powers of Scottish Government ministers. There is a convention that the UK Parliament does not normally pass such a Bill without the Scottish Parliament’s consent. Before the Parliament is asked to decide whether or not to give that consent, the Scottish Government has to lodge a document called a “legislative consent memorandum”, which is then considered by Scottish Parliament committees. You can find these memorandums (or LCMs) on this page.