§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to devolve the Government's powers in respect of broadcasting to the Scottish parliament. [62257]
§ Mr. GalbraithThe subject matter of the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996 and the BBC are reserved. This is consistent with the policy set out in the White Paper, "Scotland's Parliament", which was endorsed by the Scottish voters in the referendum in September 1997.
We have announced plans for executive devolution of certain broadcasting matters to ensure that the Scottish Ministers will have appropriate influence over key appointments to the major broadcasting organisations and that the Scottish Parliament receives formally their annual reports. The function of funding Gaelic broadcasting will also be transferred under executive devolution.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council must use Scots law practice and precedent in deliberating on disputes relating to the powers of the Scottish Parliament. [62500]
§ Mr. McLeishThe rules of procedure of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council will be made by an Order in Council under Section 103(3) of the Scotland Act 1998. They will extend throughout the United Kingdom, as does the Scotland Act 1998 itself. Similarly, the Judicial Committee will not be restricted to applying Scots law in determining cases under the Scotland Act.