{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/deer-scotland-act-1996/section-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/deer-scotland-act-1996/section-4.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1996/58",
  "legislation_title": "Deer (Scotland) Act 1996",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/deer-scotland-act-1996",
  "path": "section/4",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": "Appointment of panels.",
  "text": "(1) Subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, SNH may appoint for any locality a panel for the purposes of this section consisting of such number of persons ... as it considers appropriate, one of whom shall act as chairman.\n(2) Before making an appointment under subsection (1) above, SNH may afford to such persons or organisations as it thinks fit an opportunity to suggest the name of any person who would in its view be an appropriate person for such an appointment.\n(3) Where SNH has sought suggestions as mentioned in subsection (2) above, it shall consider any such suggestions before making an appointment under subsection (1) above.\n(4) SNH may appoint a member of SNH or a member of SNH's staff to act as observer to the panel for the purposes of—\n(a) sitting with the panel at any meeting;\n(b) taking part in their discussions; and\n(c) informing SNH of information arising during and decisions taken at such meetings.\n(5) An observer appointed under subsection (4) above shall not be a member of the panel.\n(6) SNH may refer to any such panel any matter relating to the deer functions of SNH, and it shall be the duty of the panel to advise SNH on the matter.\n(7) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision conferring further functions on panels.\n(8) Functions conferred under subsection (7) may include—\n(a) encouraging and facilitating the engagement of the local community in deer management in the locality of a panel,\n(b) looking into issues relating to deer management in the locality of a panel and communicating those issues to the local community,\n(c) communicating the views of the local community to those engaged in deer management in the locality of a panel.\n(9) Regulations under subsection (7) may modify any enactment (including this Act).",
  "extent": "S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Word in Act substituted (1.8.2010) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 134(7), Sch. 1 para. 6; S.S.I. 2010/221, art. 3(2), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(1) repealed (1.1.2012) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 26(4), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/433, art. 2(1)(f)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(1) inserted (1.8.2010) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 134(7), Sch. 1 para. 11(a); S.S.I. 2010/221, art. 3(2), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(2) substituted (1.8.2010) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 134(7), Sch. 1 para. 11(b)(i); S.S.I. 2010/221, art. 3(2), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Word in s. 4(2) substituted (1.8.2010) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 134(7), Sch. 1 para. 11(b)(ii); S.S.I. 2010/221, art. 3(2), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Word in s. 4(3) substituted (1.8.2010) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 134(7), Sch. 1 para. 11(c)(i); S.S.I. 2010/221, art. 3(2), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Word in s. 4(3) substituted (1.8.2010) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 134(7), Sch. 1 para. 11(c)(ii); S.S.I. 2010/221, art. 3(2), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Word in s. 4(6) inserted (1.8.2010) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), s. 134(7), Sch. 1 para. 11(d); S.S.I. 2010/221, art. 3(2), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "S. 4(7)-(9) inserted (28.6.2016) by Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (asp 18), ss. 78, 130(1) (with s. 128); S.S.I. 2016/193, reg. 2(1), Sch."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "substituted for s. 4(4)(5)",
      "affecting": "asp/2026/6",
      "affecting_title": "Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/58/section/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:29:29.246415+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}