Question reference: S1W-00936
- Asked by: Karen Whitefield, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 13 August 1999
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Current status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 16 August 1999
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for implementing the Scottish provisions of the Health Act 1999.
Answer
My answer to Question S1W-285 on 30 June to Mike Watson indicated that we hoped to commence the provisions of the Health Act 1999 relating to the management and organisation of the NHS in Scotland on 1 September 1999 and promised to keep members informed of progress.Regulations which are subject to annulment must be laid before Parliament at least 21 days before they are due to come into force. The Guide to Scottish Statutory Instrument Procedure, which has recently been issued, drew attention to the provision in article 13(1) of the Scotland Act (Transitory and Transitional Provision) (Statutory Instruments) Order 1999 that the computation of the 21 days does not include days when the Parliament is in recess for more than 4 consecutive days. That being so, in order to ensure that the 21-Day Rule is complied with, the relevant provisions of the 1999 Act will be brought into effect on 1 October 1999, which will allow necessary Regulations to come into effect on that day.