A4 Budget-setting regulations 5 (1) The Scottish Ministers must, by regulations, set Scottish carbon budgets so that every year between 2026 and the net-zero emissions target year is covered by a budget. (2) A budget for a period— (a) may be set by expressing the prescribed number of tonnes of carbon 10 dioxide equivalent for the period either as a figure or as a method for 1 calculating a figure, and (b) may, in particular, be set by expressing the number as a proportion of the baseline multiplied by the number of years comprising the period. (3) The period covered by a Scottish carbon budget— 15 (a) is to be 5 years (for example 2026 to 2030), but (b) may be shorter in the case of the budget for the period that ends with the net-zero emissions target year. (4) In preparing a draft of regulations to be made under this section, the Scottish Ministers must have regard to— 20 (a) the target-setting criteria, and (b) the most up-to-date advice they have received from the relevant body. (5) As soon as reasonably practicable after laying...