Part 1Environmental assessment for plans and programmes

2Responsible authorities

1

In this Act, a responsible authority is any person, body or office-holder exercising functions of a public character.

2

The responsible authority in relation to a particular plan or programme is the authority by whom, or on whose behalf, the plan or programme is prepared.

3

Where more than one authority is responsible for a plan or programme (or part of it) the responsible authority shall be—

a

the authority determined by agreement between those authorities; or

b

if there is no such agreement, the authority determined by the Scottish Ministers.

4

But for the purposes of section 5(4)(a) the responsible authorities are—

a

the Scottish Ministers;

b

any holder of an office in the Scottish Administration which is not a ministerial office;

c

the Scottish Parliament;

d

the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body;

e

a Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions;

f

any other person, body or office-holder of a description (and to such extent) as may be specified by the Scottish Ministers by order.