The Presiding Officer has determined under Rule 9C.3.2(h)(ii) of Standing Orders that the minimum requirements for advertising the Scottish Ministers’ intention to introduce a Hybrid Bill are as follows.
Advertisements in newspapers etc.
In the case of a Bill to which Rule 9C.1.2 applies, it must be advertised in two newspapers which together circulate throughout the area in which works are proposed, or in which the land or buildings which could be compulsorily acquired or used are situated. In each newspaper, the advertisement must appear in two separate issues at least a week apart.
In the case of a Bill to which Rule 9C.1.2 does not apply, it must be advertised in two newspapers together circulating throughout Scotland, in two separate issues at least a week apart.
Where, for the purposes of this determination, a Hybrid Bill is advertised in two newspapers, one may be the Edinburgh Gazette (which qualifies as a newspaper circulating throughout Scotland) so long as the other is a newspaper that circulates throughout the relevant area.
The advertisement must be headed “Proposed Hybrid Bill” and the text must include:
· the short title of the proposed Bill, and that it will be introduced by the Scottish Ministers
· a concise summary of the purpose of the Bill
· an indication of when the Bill is likely to be introduced
· a website address and a postal address from which further information about the Bill, and about the Parliamentary process (including about how to lodge an objection), may be obtained.
The Scottish Government must provide a copy of the advertisement to the Non-Government Bills Unit, at the same time as to newspapers, for posting on the Parliament’s website.
Notices in public libraries
The Scottish Government must also prepare notices, which should be at least A4 in size and contain at least the same information as the advertisements, and send them (either directly or via the local authority) to public libraries in accordance with the following paragraphs.
In the case of a Bill to which Rule 9C.1.2 applies, notices must be sent to—
· all public libraries within the area in which works are proposed, or in which the land or buildings which are to be compulsorily acquired or used are situated, plus (if that is fewer than three)
· as many outside that area but reasonably close to it as are necessary to make the total up to three.
In the case of a Bill to which Rule 9C.1.2 does not apply, notices must be sent to one public library in the area of each local authority in Scotland.
The notices should be sent with a request that they be prominently displayed, in a place accessible to visitors to the library, for a period beginning at least two weeks before the proposed introduction date of the Bill and continuing at least until the date of introduction and preferably until the end of the objection period.