Act of Sederunt (Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers Rules) (Amendment) 2024

Made: 30th May 2024

Laid before the Scottish Parliament: 31st May 2024

Coming into force: 1st July 2024

The Court of Session makes this Act of Sederunt under the powers conferred by section 75(1) of the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987[^f00001] and all other powers enabling it to do so.

Citation and commencement, etc.

1

• (1) This Act of Sederunt may be cited as the Act of Sederunt (Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers Rules) (Amendment) 2024.

• (2) It comes into force on 1st July 2024.

• (3) A certified copy is to be inserted in the Books of Sederunt.

Amendment of the Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers Rules 1991

2

• (1) The Act of Sederunt (Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers Rules) 1991[^f00002] is amended in accordance with this paragraph.

• (2) In rule 3(1)(c) (qualification as officer of court)[^f00003], for “three” substitute “two”.

• (3) In rule 4(1)(a) (qualification as messenger-at-arms), for “two years” substitute “one year”.

• (4) In Schedule 1 (forms), in Form 1 (form of petition to the Court of Session for recommendation for a commission as a messenger-at-arms)—

• (a) for “years”, where it first occurs, substitute “at least one year”;

• (b) for “two years”, in both places where it occurs substitute “one year”.

Signed

CJM SUTHERLAND — Lord President — I.P.D. — 30th May 2024

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Act of Sederunt)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Act of Sederunt amends the Act of Sederunt (Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers Rules) 1991. Paragraph 2(2) amends rule 3 by reducing the period of training required for the purpose of becoming a sheriff officer from three years to two. Paragraph 2(3) amends rule 4 to reduce the period of practice as a sheriff officer required for the purpose of becoming a messenger-at-arms from two years to one. Paragraph 2(4) amends Schedule 1, Form 1 to change references to time periods to reflect the amendments made to rule 4.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1987 c. 18. Section 75 was amended by the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), schedule 4, paragraph 2.

[^f00002]: S.I. 1991/1397, last amended by S.S.I. 2022/355.

[^f00003]: Rule 3(1) was amended by S.S.I. 2014/29.