UK Gov: Scottish Government will have the ability to further scrutinise the communications regulator Ofcom

“The provisions coming into force today will enable the Scottish Parliament to scrutinise Ofcom’s work and will help ensure that Scotland’s priorities continue to be represented.”

Scotland Act 2016 Ofcom provisions come into force.

LONDON, 19-Aug-2016 — /EuropaWire/ — The Scottish Government will have the ability to further scrutinise the communications regulator Ofcom from 18 August, as provisions in the Scotland Act 2016 come into force. The move is part of the UK Government’s commitment to devolve more powers to Holyrood, as recommended by the Smith Commission.

The new provisions will allow the Scottish Government to appoint a member of the board of Ofcom to better represent the interests of Scotland, as well as a requirement to lay Ofcom’s annual report and accounts before the Scottish Parliament.

Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell said:

The provisions coming into force today will enable the Scottish Parliament to scrutinise Ofcom’s work and will help ensure that Scotland’s priorities continue to be represented.

This is part of the UK Government’s ongoing work to implement the Scotland Act 2016, legislation which will make the Holyrood parliament one of the most powerful devolved governments in the world.

Scotland has two governments, both with different but complimentary responsibilities, and it is vital that we continue to work together for the people of Scotland.

Ofcom is the UK-wide independent communications regulator overseeing television, radio, telecoms, mobiles, postal services and the airwaves. It carries out a wide range of functions which taken together boost competition, support economic growth and promote positive consumer outcomes, both for Scotland specifically and for the UK as a whole.

SOURCE: GOV.UK