The Presiding Officer has determined under Rule 9A.2.3(d)(iv) of Standing Orders that the minimum requirements for advertising a promoter’s intention to introduce a Private Bill are as follows.
In the case of a Bill to which Rule 9A.1.1A applies, it must be advertised in two newspapers which together circulate throughout the area in which works are proposed, or in which the land or buildings which could be compulsorily acquired or used are situated. In each newspaper, the advertisement must appear in two separate issues at least a week apart.
in any other case, it must be advertised once in a newspaper circulating throughout Scotland.
Where, for the purposes of this determination, a Private Bill is advertised in two newspapers, one may be the Edinburgh Gazette (which qualifies as a newspaper circulating throughout Scotland) so long as the other is a newspaper that circulates throughout the relevant area.
· a website address and a postal address from which further information about the Bill, and about the Parliamentary process (including about how to lodge an objection), may be obtained.
The promoter must provide a copy of the advertisement to the Non-Government Bills Unit, at the same time as to newspapers, for posting on the Parliament’s website.
The promoter must also prepare notices, which should be at least A4 in size and contain at least the same information as the advertisements, and send them (either directly or via the local authority) to public libraries in accordance with the following paragraphs.
· if the promoter is a local authority, notices must be sent to all public libraries within the authority’s area which are (during the relevant period) open to the public.
· if the promoter is an organisation (other than a local authority) with a remit or functions limited to a specific geographical area, notices must be sent to three public libraries in the area concerned, plus (if that is fewer than three) as many outside that area but reasonably close to it as are necessary to make the total up to three.
· in any other case, notices must be sent to one public library in the area of each local authority in Scotland.
The notices should be sent with a request that they be prominently displayed, in a place accessible to visitors to the library, for a period beginning at least two weeks before the proposed introduction date of the Bill and continuing at least until the date of introduction and preferably until the end of the objection period.