Parliamentary.ai

Overview

This bill amends the law to allow Roman Catholics to hold the position of His Majesty's High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Previously, this was prohibited.

Description

The Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill makes two key changes:

• Eligibility for Office: Clause 1 explicitly states that a person of the Roman Catholic faith can now hold the office of His Majesty's High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
• Amendment to 1829 Act: Clause 1 also removes the reference to the High Commissioner's position from the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, which previously barred Roman Catholics from holding the office.

The bill applies to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and comes into effect immediately upon being passed.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to have any significant impact on government spending. No figures are provided in the text.

Groups Affected

The main groups affected are:

• Roman Catholics: This bill removes a historical barrier, making them eligible for the position of His Majesty's High Commissioner.
• The Church of Scotland: The bill impacts the Church by widening the pool of potential candidates for this important role.