Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 2007

I am most grateful to the Minister for explaining the elements that have gone into the drafting of this measure. At first sight, one wondered why it was necessary for the Government to introduce it. The Serious and Organised Crime Agency is a UK body concerned with the security of the whole of the United Kingdom. We are told that this measure is directed at any international mutual assistance agreement. Paragraph (7)(2)(b) of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act makes it perfectly possible for a Scottish Minister to assist the UK Secretary of State in carrying out his duties. However, from what the Minister was saying, I think that the initiative for this activity will come from SOCA itself, and it will not be up to Scottish Ministers to take any primary initiative in the matter. I was concerned, if the primary initiative passed to Scottish Ministers, how the co-ordination would be carried out with the various UK bodies that operate in this field.