Third Party Rights Bill proposed for law reform procedure

The bill to implement the Scottish Law Commission's Report on Third Party Rights, which proposes to restate this branch of Scots contract law, is to be proposed for the special Scottish Parliament procedure for non-contentious law reform measures.

Last month the First Minister announced that the bill would be taken forward as part of the Scottish Government's legislative programme for the coming year. 

Proposing a modern statutory restatement of the common law on the subject, the Commission's report intended to take account of contemporary situations such as companies contracting on behalf of others in a group, and couples providing for the division of their assets in the event of their separation, including the return of financial support previously received from friends or relatives.

Community Safety and Legal Affairs Minister Annabelle Ewing has now written to Lord Pentland, chairman of the Commission, confirming her view that the bill would be suitable for the special procedure by which Holyrood's Delegated Powers & Law Reform Committee undertakes the main scrutiny of the bill, and that the Government will take that view when the Parliamentary Bureau considers referral for stage 1 scrutiny.