HC Deb 01 February 1978 vol 943 cc491-583

'( ).—(1) For the purposes of this Act, and without prejudice to Article IV of the Articles of Union of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland (guaranteeing freedom of commerce and equality of rights throughout Great Britain), the following are protected rights and freedoms, namely,—

  1. (a) the rights and freedoms contained in the Bill of Rights for Scotland; and
  2. (b) the freedom of trade and commerce between Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom; and the right of every person lawfully resident in the United Kingdom to equality before the law and the equal protection of the law.

(2) Any enactment passed or made by the Scottish Assembly or a member of the Scottish Executive and any instrument of legislative character (including a byelaw) made there-under, shall, to the extent that it violates, or authorises the violation of, a protected right or freedom, be void.

(3) For the purposes of this Act, a protected right or freedom is violated when by any law, or by any action or failure to act, that right or freedom is abrogated, abridged or infringed, and any reference to an action where a right or freedom is violated shall include a failure to act.'.

We may also take Amendment No. 557, a new schedule:

    cc492-583
  1. 'BILL OF RIGHTS FOR SCOTLAND 35,217 words, 1 division