Implementing legislation

What happens once the Commission publishes a report?

The Commission’s reports make recommendations relating to the area of law being considered in the particular report. These recommendations often include recommendations for legislation and can include a draft Bill. It is for the Scottish Government, or in some cases the UK Government, to consider and take forward the Commission’s recommendations and this can include bringing forward Bills to implement some or all of the recommendations for legislation in a particular report.

The table below sets out the legislation that has resulted from the Commission’s reports

Report No.TitleStatusRelated Measures
270Report on Tenement law: compulsory owners’ associations Pending 
269Report on the Mental Element in HomicidePending 
267Report on Tenancy of Shops (Scotland) Act 1967 Pending 
266Report on Damages for Personal Injury Pending 
258Joint Report on Automated Vehicles In process of implementationAutomated Vehicles Act 2004
252Report on Review of Contract Law: Formation, Interpretation, Remedies for Breach, and Penalty Clauses ImplementedBill in Scottish Parliament
249Report on Moveable Transactions ImplementedMoveable Transactions (Scotland) Act 2023
248Report on Defamation ImplementedDefamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Act 2021
247Report on PrescriptionImplementedPrescription (Scotland) Act 2018
245Review of Contract Law: Report on Third Party RightsImplementedContract (Third Party Rights) (Scotland) Act 2017
243Statute Law Repeals: Twentieth Report: Draft Statute Law (Repeals) BillPending 
240Report on Adults with IncapacityPending 
239Report on Trust LawIn process of implementationTrusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024
238Report on Insurance Contract Law: Business Disclosure; Warranties; Insurers' Remedies for Fraudulent Claims; and Late PaymentImplementedInsurance Act 2015 Enterprise Act 2016
237Joint Report on Regulation of Healthcare ProfessionalsPending 
235Report on the consolidation of legislation relating to Co-operative and Community Benefit SocietiesImplementedCo-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014
234Level CrossingsPending 
233Report on Judicial FactorsIn process of implementationLand Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012
232Report on the Consolidation of Bankruptcy Legislation in ScotlandPending

Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Act 2024

The Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016

231Review of Contract Law - Report on Formation of Contract: Execution in CounterpartImplementedLegal Writings (Counterparts and Delivery) (Scotland) Act 2014
229Similar Fact Evidence and the Moorov DoctrinePending 
228Prescription and Title to Moveable PropertyPending 
227Statute Law Repeals: Nineteenth Report: Draft Statue Law (Repeals) BillImplementedStatue Law (Repeals) Act 2013
226Consumer Redress for Misleading and Aggressive PracticesImplementedThe Consumer Protection (Amendment) Regulations 2014
224Criminal Liability of PartnershipsImplementedPartnerships (Prosecution) (Scotland) Act 2013
222Land RegistrationPending 
219Consumer Insurance Law: Pre-contract Disclosure and MisrepresentationImplementedConsumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012
218Double JeopardyImplementedDouble Jeopardy (Scotland) Act 2011
217Unincorporated AssociationsPending 
216Consumer Remedies for Faulty GoodsImplementedConsumer Rights Act 2015
215SuccessionPartially implementedSuccession (Scotland) Act 2016
213Damages for Wrongful DeathImplementedDamages (Scotland) Act 2011
212Crown AppealsPartially implemented Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010
210Statute Law Repeals: Eighteenth Report: Draft Statute Law (Repeals) BillImplementedStatue Law (Repeals) Act 2008
209Rape and Other Sexual OffencesImplementedSexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009
208Sharp v ThomsonPending 
207Personal Injury Actions: Limitation and Prescribed Claims

Pending

 

Limitation (Childhood Abuse) (Scotland) Act 2017
206Variation and Termination of TrustsPending 
204Conversion of Long LeasesImplementedLong Leases (Scotland) Act 2012
203Interest on Debt and DamagesPending 
202Parliamentary Costs Bill: Report on the Consolidation of Legislation relating to Parliamentary CostsImplementedParliamentary Costs Act 2006
199Unfair Terms in ContractsImplementedConsumer Rights Act 2015
197Registration of Rights in Security by CompaniesPartially ImplementedBankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007
196Damages for Psychiatric InjuryPending 
195Insanity and Diminished ResponsibilityPartially implemented Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010
193Statute Law Revision: Seventeenth Report: Draft Statute Law (Repeals) BillImplementedStatute Law (Repeals) Act 2004
192Partnership LawPartially implementedLegislative Reform (Limited Partnerships) Order 2009
191Irritancy in Leases in LandPending 
190Law of the Foreshore and Sea BedPending 
188Consolidation of certain Enactments relating to Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries in ScotlandImplementedSalmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003
187Title to Sue for Non-Patrimonial LossImplementedFamily Law (Scotland) Act 2006
185Age of Criminal ResponsibilityPartially implementedCriminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010
184Third Parties - Rights against InsurersImplemented

Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010 

Insurance Act 2015

183DiligenceImplementedBankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007
181Real BurdensImplementedTitle Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003
180Damages under the Human Rights Act 1998No legislation required 
178Jurisdictions under the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) ActsImplementedPart 7 of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003
177Poinding and Warrant SaleImplementedDebt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002
175Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) BillScottish recommendations implemented by the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000
174Remedies for Breach of ContractPending 
173Company Directors: Regulating Conflicts of Interest and Formulating a Statement of DutiesImplementedCompanies Act 2006
172Trustees' Powers and DutiesImplemented in ScotlandCharities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005
171Penalty ClausesPending 
169Unjustified Enrichment, Error of the Law and Public Authority Receipts and DisbursementsNo legislation required 
168Abolition of the Feudal SystemImplementedAbolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000
166Statute Law Revision: Sixteenth Report: Draft Statue Law (Repeals) BillImplementedStatute Law (Repeals) Act 1998
165Leasehold CasualtiesImplementedLeasehold Casualties (Scotland) Act 2003
164Diligence on the Dependence and Admiralty ArrestmentsImplemented 
163Boundary WallsNo legislation required 
162Law of the TenementImplementedLeasehold Casualties (Scotland) Act 2001
158Vulnerable AdultsImplemented

Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003

Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007

160Interpretation in Private LawPending 
157Town and Country Planning in Scotland Implemented

Town and County Planning (Scotland) Act 1997

Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997

Planning (Hazardous Substances) (Scotland) Act 1997

Planning (Consequential Provisions (Scotland) Act 1997

155Statute Law Revision: Report on the Chronological Table of Local LegislationNo legislation required 
154Multi-Party ActionsTo be implemented by Act of Sederunt 
152Three Bad Rules in Contract LawImplementedContract (Scotland) Act 1997
151Incapable AdultsImplementedAdults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000
150Statute Law Revision: Fifteenth Report: Draft Statute Law (Repeals) BillImplementedStatute Law Repeals Act 1995
149Evidence: Report on Hearsay Evidence in Criminal ProceedingsImplementedCriminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1995
147Confiscation and ForfeitureImplementedCriminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1995
145Sale of Goods Forming Part of a BulkImplementedSale of Goods (Amendment) Act 1995
144Formation of Contract: Scottish Law and the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of GoodsPending 
143Health Service Commissioners Bill: Report on the Consolidation of the Legislation relating to the Health Service CommissionersImplementedHealth Service Commissioners Act 1993
142Pension Schemes Bill: Report on the Consolidation of the Legislation relating to Pension Schemes.ImplementedPension Schemes Act 1993
141Crofters (Scotland) Bill: Report on the Consolidation of Certain Enactments relating to Pension Schemes.ImplementedCrofters (Scotland) Act 1993
140Statute Law Revision: Fourteenth Report: Draft Statute Law (Repeals) BillImplementedStatute Law (Repeals) Act 1993
138Clean Air Bill: Report on the Consolidation of Certain Enactments relating to Clean AirImplementedClean Air Act 1993
136Evidence: Protection of Family MediationImplementedCivil Evidence (Family Mediation) (Scotland) Act 1995
137Evidence: Report on Documentary Evidence and Proof of Undisputed Facts in Criminal ProceedingsImplemented

Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings Act 1993

Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1995

135Family LawImplemented

Children (Scotland) Act 1995

Family Law (Scotland) Act 1993

134The Effect of Death on DamagesImplemented 
133Statutory Fees for ArresteesPending 
132Report on the Consolidation of the Legislation relating to Social SecurityImplemented

Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992

Social Security Administration Act 1992

Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1992

130Rights of Suit in Respect of Carriage of Goods by SeaPending 
129Private International Law - Choice in Law in Tort and DelictImplementedPrivate International Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1995
127Passing of Risk in Contracts for the Sale of Heritable PropertyPending 
125Evidence of Children and Other Potentially Vulnerable WitnessesImplemented

Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990

Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993

Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004

124SuccessionPartially ImplementedFamily Law (Scotland) Act 2006

Law reform

Information about our law reform programmes and current and completed law reform projects.

View our Law reform