§ The Earl of Mar and Kellieasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Interpretation Act 1978 will be devolved or reserved in the context of the Scottish Parliament; and whether the Scottish Parliament will be able to amend that Act for Scottish parliamentary purposes. [HL1051]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sewel)The Interpretation Act 1978 will be reserved, in that it relates to the interpretation of Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which is itself reserved. The Scottish Parliament will be able to make its own legislative provision about the interpretation of Acts of the Scottish Parliament and statutory instruments made under such Acts. It is intended to make transitional provision for interpretation which will have effect until the Scottish Parliament makes its own provision. Paragraph 8 of Schedule 7 to the Scotland Bill makes provision for the amendment of the Interpretation Act 1978 to regulate the relationship between an Act of the Scottish Parliament and an Act of the UK Parliament where either one operates on the other.