{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/scotland-act-1998/section-32A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/scotland-act-1998/section-32A.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1998/46",
  "legislation_title": "Scotland Act 1998",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/scotland-act-1998",
  "path": "section/32A",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "32A",
  "heading": "Scrutiny of Bills by the Supreme Court (protected subject-matter)",
  "text": "(1) The Advocate General, the Lord Advocate or the Attorney General may refer the question of whether a Bill or any provision of a Bill relates to a protected subject-matter to the Supreme Court for decision.\n(2) Subject to subsection (3), he may make a reference in relation to a Bill—\n(a) at any time during the period of four weeks beginning with the rejection of the Bill, if the Presiding Officer has made a statement under section 31(2A) that in his view any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, and\n(b) at any time during the period of four weeks beginning with the passing of the Bill, if the Presiding Officer has made a statement under section 31(2A) that in his view no provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, unless the number of members voting in favour of the Bill at its passing is at least two-thirds of the total number of seats for members of the Parliament.\n(3) He shall not make a reference in relation to a Bill if he has notified the Presiding Officer that he does not intend to make a reference in relation to the Bill, unless since the notification the Bill has been approved or rejected in accordance with standing orders made by virtue of section 36(5).",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 32A inserted (18.5.2017) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 11(10), 72(4)(a); S.I. 2017/608, reg. 2(1)(i)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/46/section/32A",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-31T10:33:08.185252+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."
}