Part 1 SSimplification of public bodies

Transfer of functionsS

1Transfer to Scottish Natural Heritage of functions of Deer Commission for ScotlandS

(1)The functions conferred on the Deer Commission for Scotland by or under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 (c. 58) or any other enactment are transferred to Scottish Natural Heritage.

(2)All property, rights, liabilities and obligations of the Deer Commission for Scotland are transferred to Scottish Natural Heritage.

(3)The Deer Commission for Scotland is dissolved.

(4)Anything done by or in relation to the Deer Commission for Scotland has effect, in relation to any time after this section comes into force, as if done by or in relation to Scottish Natural Heritage.

(5)Schedule 1 (which makes modifications of enactments in consequence of this section) has effect.

2Transfer to Scottish Natural Heritage of functions of Advisory Committee on sites of special scientific interestS

(1)The committee referred to in section 21(1) of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6) is dissolved.

(2)All property, rights, liabilities and obligations of the committee referred to in subsection (1) are transferred to Scottish Natural Heritage.

(3)In the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004—

(a)in section 21 (Advisory Committee on sites of special scientific interest), subsections (1) to (5) are repealed,

(b)in subsection (8) of that section, for paragraphs (a) to (c) substitute—

“(a)consider the matter, and

(b)take such action as it thinks fit.”,

(c)in the title to that section, for “Advisory Committee” substitute “ Representations to SNH ”,

(d)in section 58(1) (interpretation), the definition “Advisory Committee” is repealed,

(e)in schedule 1 (notification relating to sites of special scientific interest: procedure)—

(i)in paragraph 9(b), for “refer the matter to the Advisory Committee” substitute “ consider the matter, ”,

(ii)in paragraph 9, for “paragraphs (a) and (b)” substitute “ paragraph (a) ”,

(iii)for the title to paragraph 9, substitute “ Representations to SNH on sites of special scientific interest ”,

(iv)paragraph 11 is repealed,

(v)in paragraph 12(a), for “a matter has been referred to the Advisory Committee” substitute “ SNH is required by subsection (8) of section 21 to consider a matter, ”.

(4)In the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 13), in Part 7 of schedule 1 (Scottish public authorities), the paragraph relating to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest is repealed.

(5)In the Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 4), in schedule 2 (the specified authorities), the entry relating to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest is repealed.

3Transfer to certain bodies of functions of Waterwatch ScotlandS

(1)The position of the Convener of the Water Customer Consultation Panels is abolished.

(2)In schedule 2 to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 (asp 11) (listed authorities), after paragraph 16 insert—

“16AScottish Water.”.

(3)The Water Customer Consultation Panels are dissolved.

(4)[F1Citizens Advice Scotland] is to exercise its functions under the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 (c. 17) in relation to services provided by Scottish Water.

(5)But nothing in this section is to be taken as restricting in any way the exercise of functions by [F2Citizens Advice Scotland].

(6)Schedule 2 (which makes modification of enactments in consequence of this section) has effect.

(7)Schedule 3 (which makes provision for the transfer of staff, property, liabilities and ongoing matters) has effect.

[F3(8) In this section “ Citizens Advice Scotland ” means the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux. ]