
1 
This Order may be cited as the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 (Commencement No. 3, Savings and Transitional Provisions) Order 2006.
2 

(1) 1st April 2006 is the day appointed for the coming into force of the provisions of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 set out in column 1 of the table of commencements in the schedule to this Order.
(2) The provisions referred to in paragraph (1) shall come into force only for the purposes set out in column 2 of the table of commencements in the schedule to this Order.
3 
In this instrument–
 “the 1995 Act” means the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995; and
 “the 2004 Act” means the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004.
4 

(1) The provisions of the 2004 Act brought into force by this Order shall, in respect of solemn proceedings in the High Court and the sheriff court, apply only to solemn proceedings commenced on or after 1st April 2006, with proceedings being taken to have commenced when a report of the case has been received by the procurator fiscal.
(2) Part 2 of the 2004 Act, commenced by this Order in respect of children’s hearings court proceedings, shall apply only in respect of hearings of relevant appeals and applications which have been lodged on or after 1st April 2006.
HUGH HENRY
Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers
St Andrew’s House,
Edinburgh
9th February 2006
SCHEDULE
Article 2


Column 1 Column 2
Provisions to be commenced Purposes for which the provision is to be commenced
Section 1 insofar as it substitutes for section 271 of the 1995 Act: sections 271 (insofar as not already commenced other than in subsections (5) and (6) of substituted section 271 the reference to section 271I), 271C, 271D to 271G (insofar as not already commenced), 271H (insofar as not already commenced other than subsection (1)(a) of section 271H) and 271J to 271M (insofar as not already commenced) Only in respect of solemn proceedings in the High Court and sheriff court.
Section 1 insofar as it substitutes for section 271 of the 1995 Act section 271(5) and (6) in relation to the references to sections 271H(1)(a) and 271I Only in respect of solemn proceedings in the High Court and sheriff court, other than those in which, at the time the court is considering a vulnerable witness application under section 271C(5) or 271C(7) of the 1995 Act, or is reviewing the current arrangements for taking a vulnerable witness’s evidence under section 271D(1) of the 1995 Act–
(a) the accused is charged with a sexual offence to which section 288C of the 1995 Act applies;
(b) the accused is charged with an offence in respect of which the court has made an order under section 288C(4) of the 1995 Act;
(c) section 288E of the 1995 Act applies to the proceedings in respect of which the vulnerable witness application under consideration has been lodged or is being reviewed; or
(d) an order has been made under section 288F(2) in the proceedings in respect of which the vulnerable witness notice under consideration has been lodged or is being reviewed.
Section 2 insofar as not already commenced other than subsections (2), (3) and (5) Only in respect of solemn proceedings in the High Court and sheriff court.
Section 3 insofar as not already commenced other than the reference in subsection (1) of section 15A to section 271I Only in respect of solemn proceedings in the High Court and sheriff court.
Section 3 insofar as it inserts section 15A in relation to the reference in subsection (1) of section 15A to section 271I Only in respect of solemn proceedings in the High Court and sheriff court, other than those in which, at the time the court is considering a vulnerable witness application under section 271C(5) or 271C(7) of the 1995 Act, or is reviewing the current arrangements for taking a vulnerable witness’s evidence under section 271D(1) of the 1995 Act–
(a) the accused is charged with a sexual offence to which section 288C of the 1995 Act applies;
(b) the accused is charged with an offence in respect of which the court has made an order under section 288C(4) of the 1995 Act;
(c) section 288E of the 1995 Act applies to the proceedings in respect of which the vulnerable witness application under consideration has been lodged or is being reviewed; or
(d) an order has been made under section 288F(2) in the proceedings in respect of which the vulnerable witness notice under consideration has been lodged or is being reviewed.
Section 6 insofar as not already commenced Only in respect of solemn proceedings in the High Court and sheriff court.
Section 7(1) and (3) insofar as not already commenced Only in respect of solemn proceedings in the High Court and sheriff court.
Section 11 insofar as not already commenced (except in section 11(5) the reference to section 18 shall not include section 18(1)(a)) Only in respect of proceedings in the sheriff court under Part II of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 in respect of appeals under section 51(1) and applications under sections 65(7), 65(9) and 85 of that Act.
Section 11(5) insofar as the reference to section 18 includes section 18(1)(a) Only in respect of proceedings in the sheriff court under Part II of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 in respect of–
(a) appeals under section 51(1) of that Act;
(b) applications under sections 65(7) and 65(9) of that Act other than applications to which section 68A(1)(a) of that Act applies; or
(c) applications under section 85 of that Act other than applications to which section 68A(1)(b) of that Act applies.
Sections 12, 13 to 16, 17(2) and 18(1)(b) to (e) and (2) insofar as not already commenced Only in respect of proceedings in the sheriff court under Part II of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 in respect of appeals under section 51(1) and applications under sections 65(7), 65(9) and 85 of that Act.
Section 18(1)(a) and 19 insofar as not already commenced Only in respect of proceedings in the sheriff court under Part II of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 in respect of–
(a) appeals under section 51(1) of that Act;
(b) applications under sections 65(7) and 65(9) of that Act other than applications to which section 68A(1)(a) of that Act applies; or
(c) applications under section 85 of that Act other than applications to which section 68A(1)(b) of that Act applies.
Sections 20 to 22 insofar as not already commenced Only in respect of proceedings in the sheriff court under Part II of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 in respect of appeals under section 51(1) and applications under sections 65(7), 65(9) and 85 of that Act.