Presiding Officer determination (Hybrid Bills): Proper form of accompanying documents
The Presiding Officer has determined under Rule 9C.3.1 of the Standing Orders that the proper form of accompanying documents for a Hybrid Bill is as follows.
All accompanying documents (other than maps, plans and sections)
The text of each document should be set out either in un-numbered paragraphs or in consecutively-numbered paragraphs (1, 2, 3, etc.). Paragraphs may be divided into sub-paragraphs or bullet-points, but multi-level numbering (e.g. 1.1.1) should be avoided.
Headings should be un-numbered.
The text of each document should generally follow the order of such requirements as are specified in the relevant Rule.
Books of References
The first paragraph (under the heading “Introduction”) should read as follows [variable or optional text]––
This document relates to the [short title] Bill introduced in the Scottish Parliament on [date]. It has been prepared by the Scottish Government to satisfy Rule 9C.3.2(g)(ii) of the Parliament’s Standing Orders. The contents are entirely the responsibility of the Scottish Government and have not been endorsed by the Parliament.
Environmental Statement
The first paragraph (under the heading “Introduction”) should read as follows [variable or optional text]––
This document relates to the [short title] Bill introduced in the Scottish Parliament on [date]. It has been prepared by the Scottish Government to satisfy Rule 9C.3.2(g)(iii) of the Parliament’s Standing Orders. The contents are entirely the responsibility of the Scottish Government and have not been endorsed by the Parliament.
Scottish Ministers’ Statement
The Statement should clearly state whether Rule 9C.3.2(h)(i) applies.
Any undertaking under Rule 9C.3.2(h)(iii) – if required – should be in the following form [variable or optional text] and should be signed by one of the Scottish Ministers (or junior Scottish Minister), or an official authorised to sign on their behalf––
I, [name], on behalf of the Scottish Ministers, hereby undertake to send copies of the [short title] Bill and its accompanying documents to those premises listed in the Scottish Ministers’ Statement as premises (other than premises to which copies are to be sent by the Clerk under Rule 9C.4.2) where the Bill and accompanying documents may be inspected.
(Note: if the only premises listed in the Scottish Ministers’ Statement are those premises to which copies are to be sent by the Clerk under Rule 9C.4.2, an undertaking in the form given above need not be included.)
The undertaking under Rule 9C.3.3(h)(iv) should be in the following form [variable or optional text] and should be signed by one of the Scottish Ministers (or junior Scottish Minister) or an official authorised to sign on their behalf––
I, [name], on behalf of the Scottish Ministers, hereby undertake to pay any costs that may be incurred by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body during the passage of the [short title] Bill in connection with such matters associated with the appointment and use of an assessor as are determined by that Body under Rule 9C.3.2(h)(iv) of the Parliament’s Standing Orders.