(S2O-787) The powers of the Scottish Executive with respect to the water industry, and those of Scottish Water and the water industry commissioner are set out in the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002.Specifically, section 56 (3) of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 states that"Scottish ministers may give Scottish Water … general or specific"directions"as to the exercise of its functions",and section 1(3) of the act states that"Scottish ministers may … give the Commissioner … general or specific"directions on the exercise of his functions.However, those powers of direction must be exercised in a manner that is consistent with the provisions of the act and ministers cannot use the powers to negate or amend specific provisions in the act, because to do so would contradict Parliament's intentions.