SP Bill 70B Session 5 (2021) 2 European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill 3 Duty to promote local self-government (1) The Scottish Ministers must— (a) keep under consideration whether there are any steps which they could take which would or might safeguard and reinforce local self-government and increase the 5 autonomy of local authorities, and (b) if they consider it appropriate to do so, take any of the steps identified by that consideration. (2) The Scottish Ministers must, in accordance with subsection (3), lay before the Scottish Parliament and publish a report of— 10 (a) the steps they have taken, or plan to take, by the date...