UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Act 2026
2026 asp 4An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision in relation to the Union of European Football Associations Championship that is to be held, in part, in Glasgow.
Enacted
The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed by the Parliament on 15th January 2026 and received Royal Assent on 27th February 2026
Introductory¶
I11 Meaning of key terms¶
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the “Championship” means the UEFA European Championship that is to be held, in part, in Glasgow,
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the “Championship period” means the period specified in regulations made by the Scottish Ministers,
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a “Championship ticket” means any ticket, card, electronic device or other thing which entitles an individual to attend a football match which is held as part of the Championship (whether or not held in Scotland),
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an “event zone” means—
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the Hampden Park zone, or
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any other zone in Glasgow,
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“prohibited time” means a time during the Championship period that is—
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a prohibited time for the purpose of the trading offence, or
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a prohibited time for the purpose of the advertising offence,
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Ticket touting¶
I22 Ban on ticket touting¶
I33 Exception for charity auctions¶
I44 Exception for certain advertisers etc.¶
A person (“A”) who advertises that a Championship ticket is available for purchase from, or makes a ticket available for sale by, another person (“B”) does not commit the touting offence if—I55 Exceptions for providers of information society services etc.¶
Street trading etc.¶
I66 Ban on outdoor trading within event zones¶
I77 Trading activities and places¶
I88 Trading permitted in prescribed circumstances¶
I99 Existing trading licences¶
It is not a defence for a person charged with the trading offence that the person has a trading licence, whether granted before or after this section comes into force.I1010 Alternative arrangements where existing trading banned during Championship¶
Glasgow City Council must offer alternative trading arrangements to existing street traders during the times when the trading offence applies.I1111 Guidance and information about trading¶
Advertising¶
I1212 Ban on advertising within event zones¶
I1313 Advertising activities and places¶
I1414 Advertising permitted in prescribed circumstances¶
I1515 Existing advertising licences¶
I1616 Guidance and information about advertising¶
Enforcement powers¶
I1717 Enforcement officers¶
I1818 General enforcement powers¶
I1919 Restrictions on power to seize infringing article¶
I2020 Restrictions on power to conceal infringing article¶
I2121 Restrictions on power to destroy infringing article¶
An infringing article may be destroyed only if the enforcement officer—I2222 Power to enter and search¶
I2323 Enforcement officers: assistance¶
I2424 Use of reasonable force¶
I2525 Further restrictions on entering houses¶
I2626 Power to obtain information¶
I2727 Requirement to produce evidence of identity and authority¶
An enforcement officer must, while doing anything under section 18, 22 or 26, produce evidence of the officer’s identity and authority to take action if requested to do so.I2828 Test purchases¶
I2929 Compensation and recovery of costs¶
I3030 Obstructing an enforcement officer¶
It is an offence (“the obstruction offence”)—I3131 Police powers¶
I3232 Action under sections 18 to 28: procedure¶
The Scottish Ministers may by regulations specify further procedure which an enforcement officer or, as the case may be, a constable must follow when doing anything under sections 18 to 28.Enforcement of offences¶
I3333 Penalties¶
I3434 Individual culpability where offending by an organisation¶
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“relevant organisation” mean an organisation listed in the first column of the table in subsection (4),
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“responsible individual” means, in relation to a relevant organisation—
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an individual falling within the corresponding entry in the second column of the table in subsection (4), or
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an individual purporting to act in the capacity of an individual falling within the corresponding entry.
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| Relevant organisation | Individual |
|---|---|
| company as mentioned in section 1 of the Companies Act 2006 | director, manager, secretary or other similar officer |
| member, where the company’s affairs are managed by its members | |
| limited liability partnership | member |
| other partnership | partner |
| any other body or association | individual who is concerned in the management or control of its affairs |
Review of Act¶
I3535 Review of Act¶
Final provisions¶
I3636 Ancillary provision¶
I3737 Regulation-making powers¶
I3838 Interpretation¶
In this Act—-
“advertise” and “advertising” are to be construed in accordance with section 13,
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“advertisement” means any word, letter, image, mark, sound, light, model, sign, placard, board, notice, screen, awning, blind, flag, device, costume or representation—
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whether illuminated or not, and
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in the nature of, and employed wholly or partly for the purposes of, advertisement, promotion, announcement or direction,
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“advertising licence” has the meaning given by section 15(2),
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“the advertising offence” has the meaning given by section 12(1),
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“advertising regulations” has the meaning given by section 12(3),
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“ambush marketing” means an act or series of acts intended specifically to advertise within an event zone at a prohibited time—
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a good or service, or
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a person who provides a good or service,
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“article” includes a living thing,
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“building” does not include—
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a caravan, marquee, stall, tent or other temporary or moveable structure,
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a building (or part of a building) which is designed or used generally as a car park,
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a telephone kiosk,
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“Championship” has the meaning given by section 1(1),
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“Championship offence” has the meaning given by section 18(1)(a),
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“Championship period” has the meaning given by section 1(1),
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“Championship ticket” has the meaning given by section 1(1),
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“constable” has the meaning given by section 99(1) of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012,
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“enforcement officer” has the meaning given by section 17(1),
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“event zone” has the meaning given by section 1(1),
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“existing street trader” has the meaning given by section 7(4),
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“house”—
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means any building (or part of a building), flat, mobile home, houseboat, caravan or other place which is occupied only as a separate dwelling,
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does not include any yard, garden, garage, outbuilding or other similar area or structure,
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“infringing article” has the meaning given by section 18(3),
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“newspaper” excludes a newspaper whose sole or principal effect is to advertise a good or service, or a person who provides a good or service, in an event zone at a prohibited time,
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“the obstruction offence” has the meaning given by section 30,
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“open public place” means—
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a road, or
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another place—
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to which the public have access (whether generally or only for the purpose of the trading), and
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which is not in a building (except one designed or generally used for the parking of cars),
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“performance of a play” means performance of any dramatic piece, whether improvisational or not—
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given wholly or in part by one or more persons actually present and performing, and
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in which the whole or a major proportion of what is done by the person performing, whether by way of speech, singing or action, involves the playing of a role,
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“public entertainment” means—
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a performance of live music for members of the public,
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any playing of recorded music for members of the public,
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a performance of dance for members of the public,
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a performance of a play for members of the public,
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any entertainment of a similar description to that in paragraphs (a) to (d),
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“the touting offence” has the meaning given by section 2,
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“trade” and “trading” are to be construed in accordance with section 7,
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“trading licence” means—
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a street trader’s licence granted by Glasgow City Council under section 39 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982,
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a market operator’s licence granted by Glasgow City Council under section 40 of that Act, or
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a certificate granted under the Pedlars Act 1871,
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“the trading offence” has the meaning given by section 6,
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“the trading regulations” means regulations made under section 6(3),
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“UEFA” means the Union des Associations Européennes de Football,
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“UEFA Partner” means a person or body who is party to a sponsorship or licence agreement with UEFA in relation to a good or service in respect of the Championship.
I3939 Commencement¶
I4040 Repeal¶
I4141 Short title¶
The short title of this Act is the UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Act 2026.Schedule 1 ¶
Touting offence: exceptions for providers of information society services etc.
(introduced by section 5)
I421 Preconditions for taking proceedings against service providers established in EEA state¶
I432 Exception for mere conduit¶
I443 Exception for caching¶
I454 Exception for hosting¶
I465 Interpretation¶
In this schedule—-
“EEA state” means—
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a member state of the European Union, or
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any other state that is a party to the agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2 May 1992, together with the protocol adjusting that agreement signed at Brussels on 17 March 1993, as modified or supplemented from time to time,
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“information society service” means any service normally provided—
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for remuneration,
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at a distance (namely, the service is provided without the parties being simultaneously present),
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by electronic means (namely, the service is—
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sent initially and received at its destination by means of electronic equipment for the processing (including digital compression) and storage of data, and
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entirely transmitted, conveyed and received by wire, radio, optical means or other electromagnetic means), and
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at the individual request of a recipient of services (namely, the service is provided through the transmission of data on individual request),
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“recipient”, in relation to a service, means a person who (whether for professional purposes or not) uses an information society service, in particular for seeking information or making it accessible,
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“service provider” means a person providing an information society service.
Schedule 2 ¶
Trading offence: exemptions for certain types of trading
(introduced by section 6(2)(b))
Types of trading exempt from trading offence¶
Interpretation¶
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“busking” means a performance of live music in a street, during which members of the public are invited to give money to the performers,
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“exempt retail premises” means a building normally used as—
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a shop,
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a restaurant or bar or otherwise used for the supply of meals, refreshments or alcohol to the public, or
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a petrol filling station, car showroom or car garage,
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“Glasgow Life” means Culture and Sport Glasgow, a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland (number SC313851) and having its registered office at 38 Albion Street, Glasgow G1 1LH,
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“motor vehicle” has the same meaning as in section 185 of the Road Traffic Act 1988,
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“sanitary convenience” means a toilet or urinal,
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“supplying pedicabs” means supplying transport services using pedal operated tricycles,
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“tourist services” means public transport services primarily for the benefit of tourists,
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“walking tour operator” means a person who supplies services to the public comprising tours of an area on foot.
Schedule 3 ¶
Advertising offence: exemptions for certain types of activity
(introduced by section 12(2))
I511 Exemption for demonstrations, etc.¶
I522 Exemption for individuals wearing advertising attire, displaying advertisements on their bodies or carrying personal property¶
I533 Exemptions modelled on the Town and Country Planning Regulations¶
I544 Exemption for hand-held devices¶
I555 Other exemptions¶
I566 Interpretation¶
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“displaying an advertisement” includes—
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projecting, emitting, screening or exhibiting an advertisement,
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carrying or holding an advertisement or an apparatus by which an advertisement is displayed,
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providing for an advertisement to be displayed—
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on an animal, or
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on apparatus which is carried or held by an animal,
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“exempt business advertisement” means an advertisement (whether illuminated or not) displayed on business premises within a building (or a forecourt associated with such premises) that refers wholly to—
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the business carried on,
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the goods or services provided, or
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the name or qualifications of the person carrying out the business or supplying the goods or services on those premises,
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“forecourt” includes any fence, wall or similar screen or structure enclosing a forecourt and not forming part of the fabric of a building constituting business premises,
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“Glasgow Life” means Culture and Sport Glasgow, a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland (number SC313851) and having its registered office at 38 Albion Street, Glasgow G1 1LH,
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“railway station” includes a subway station,
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“the Town and Country Planning Regulations” means the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Scotland) Regulations 1984 (S.I. 1984/467).
Schedule 4 ¶
Compensation for enforcement action
(introduced by section 29(3))
I571 Amount of compensation due¶
Where a person may obtain compensation under section 29(1), the amount of compensation to which that person is entitled under that section is the total of—I582 Notice of claim¶
I593 Initial consideration of claim¶
I604 Decision on a claim¶
I615 Review of decision on a claim¶
I626 Appeal to the sheriff¶
Footnotes
- I1S. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I2S. 2 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I3S. 3 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I4S. 4 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I5S. 5 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I6S. 6 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I7S. 7 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I8S. 8 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I9S. 9 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I10S. 10 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I11S. 11 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I12S. 12 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I13S. 13 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I14S. 14 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I15S. 15 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I16S. 16 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I17S. 17 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I18S. 18 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I19S. 19 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I20S. 20 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I21S. 21 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I22S. 22 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I23S. 23 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I24S. 24 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I25S. 25 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I26S. 26 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I27S. 27 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I28S. 28 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I29S. 29 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I30S. 30 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I31S. 31 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I32S. 32 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I33S. 33 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I34S. 34 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I35S. 35 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I36S. 36 in force at 28.2.2026, see s. 39(1)
- I37S. 37 in force at 28.2.2026, see s. 39(1)
- I38S. 38 in force at 28.2.2026, see s. 39(1)
- I39S. 39 in force at 28.2.2026, see s. 39(1)
- I40S. 40 in force at 28.2.2026, see s. 39(1)
- I41S. 41 in force at 28.2.2026, see s. 39(1)
- I42Sch. 1 para. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I43Sch. 1 para. 2 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I44Sch. 1 para. 3 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I45Sch. 1 para. 4 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I46Sch. 1 para. 5 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I47Sch. 2 para. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I48Sch. 2 para. 2 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I49Sch. 2 para. 3 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I50Sch. 2 para. 4 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I51Sch. 3 para. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I52Sch. 3 para. 2 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I53Sch. 3 para. 3 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I54Sch. 3 para. 4 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I55Sch. 3 para. 5 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I56Sch. 3 para. 6 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I57Sch. 4 para. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I58Sch. 4 para. 2 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I59Sch. 4 para. 3 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I60Sch. 4 para. 4 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I61Sch. 4 para. 5 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)
- I62Sch. 4 para. 6 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 39(2)