Overview

This bill amends the Scotland Act 1998, granting the Scottish Parliament the power to hold independence referendums. However, it includes safeguards: public support for a referendum must be demonstrated, and a minimum seven-year gap between referendums is mandated.

Description

The bill adds a new Part 2B to the Scotland Act 1998, specifically addressing referendums on Scottish independence. The Scottish Parliament gains the authority to legislate for such referendums. Crucially, two conditions are imposed:

• Public Support: The Scottish public must demonstrably support holding a referendum, using a method approved by the Scottish Parliament.
• Seven-Year Gap: Subsequent referendums cannot be held sooner than seven years after the previous one.

The bill also removes a reservation in the Scotland Act 1998, explicitly allowing the Scottish Parliament to hold independence referendums.

Government Spending

The bill itself doesn't directly specify government spending. The financial implications would depend on the Scottish Parliament's decisions regarding the organization and execution of any future referendum.

Groups Affected

This bill potentially affects several groups:

• Scottish Parliament: Grants them significant new powers regarding self-determination.
• Scottish Public: Their views on independence will be directly relevant to triggering any referendum.
• UK Government: While the bill grants powers to the Scottish Parliament, the UK government retains overall constitutional authority.
• Political Parties in Scotland: This bill may shift political dynamics and strategies within Scotland.

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