35Amalgamation schemes
For section 20 of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967 there shall be substituted the following section—
“20Power of Secretary of State to make amalgamation schemes
(1)If it appears to the Secretary of State that it is expedient in the interests of efficiency to make an amalgamation scheme for any police areas, he may, in accordance with the provisions of this section, make such amalgamation schemes, containing such provisions, as he considers appropriate.
(2)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, but subject to section 19A of this Act, an amalgamation scheme under this section may provide—
(a)for the amalgamation of any two or more police areas into a combined area;
(b)for the alteration of an existing combined area by the addition to or deletion from it of any police area;
(c)for the establishment or re-establishment and maintenance of police forces for any police area or combined area resulting from the scheme;
(d)for the dissolution and winding up of any joint police board constituted under a pre-existing amalgamation scheme, or for the reconstitution of any such board;
(e)for the transfer or retransfer to such police forces as may be determined by the scheme of constables affected by the scheme;
(f)for the transfer or retransfer to such authorities as may be determined by the scheme of any officers, property, rights or liabilities affected by the scheme;
(g)for the doing of anything which is required to be done, or which may be done, in an amalgamation scheme made under section 19 of this Act; and
(h)for any other matters incidental to or consequential on the provisions of the scheme.
(3)Before making a scheme under this section which contains provision such as is mentioned in subsection (2)(a) or (b) above the Secretary of State shall—
(a)consult such police authorities as appear to him to be affected by the scheme; and
(b)where any such authority submit objections to the scheme, inform that authority in writing whether he accepts the objections and, if he does not, why he does not.
(4)A scheme under this section shall be contained in an order made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.”.