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Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 2006

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Maclennan of Rogart, for his comments, and his confession that he did not understand the second question of the noble Duke, the Duke of Montrose. Nor did I, but I now do because I have been briefed by the Box. The noble Duke, the Duke of Montrose, asks why these firefighter pension scheme functions were not transferred with the previous order on firefighters’ pensions. At the time of the most recent order relating to the fire services’ pensions, for the Scotland Act 1998, it had not been recognised that additional powers about civil partners under Section 26 of the Fire Services Act 1947, made by the Civil Partnership Act 2004, would not extend to Scotland. This is a bit of housework to ensure that that happens. I have forgotten the number of times I have spoken to orders to ensure that the Civil Partnership Act is in harmony with other Acts; it must be dozens, and I hope this is the last one. A recent ODPM order introduced initial changes to the fire services in Scotland. The noble Duke asks why we are doing it again. Section 26 of the Fire Services Act was repealed and replaced by the Civil Partnership Act in 2004. Functions in the 2004 Act are being transferred to Scottish Ministers. However, I will study Hansard, and if I failed to answer any of the noble Duke’s piercing questions, I will do so by letter. On Question, Motion agreed to.