§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Advocate-General which provisions of the Scotland Act 1998 she has relied upon with respect to the development of the role of Advocate-General that she has embarked upon. [37516]
The Advocate-GeneralThe Scotland Act deals only with my statutory functions but the provisions which to date have been most relevant are(a) section 33, which enables The Advocate-General, Lord Advocate or Attorney-General to refer the question of whether a Bill or any provision of a Bill would be within the legislative 1489W competence of the Scottish Parliament to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council for decision. In my answer of 25 January 2002, Official Report, column 1127W on legislation I explained my approach to Scottish Parliament Bills under section 33 and (b) paragraph 6 of Schedule 6, which provides that where intimation of a devolution issue is given to The Advocate-General or Lord Advocate under paragraph 5 The Advocate-General or Lord Advocate may take part as a party to the proceedings, so far as they relate to a devolution issue. In my answer of 25 January, I explained my approach to intervention in devolution issue cases.