Scotland Act 1978
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| Long title | An Act to provide for changes in the government of Scotland and in the procedure of Parliament and in the constitution and functions of certain public bodies. |
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| Citation | 1978 c. 51 |
| Introduced by | Michael Foot |
| Territorial extent | United Kingdom |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 31 July 1978 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Scotland Act 1978 (Repeal) Order 1979 [SI 1979/928] |
| Relates to | Scotland Act 1978 (Referendum) Order 1978; Scotland Act 1998 |
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Status: Repealed
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Scotland Act 1978 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom intended to establish a Scottish Assembly as a devolved legislature for Scotland. At a referendum held in the following year, the Act failed to gain the necessary level of approval required by an amendment, and was never put into effect.
Following Winnie Ewing's groundbreaking win for the Scottish National Party in the Hamilton by-election, 1967, the United Kingdom government responded to the growing support for Scottish independence by setting up the Royal Commission on the Constitution, better known as the Kilbrandon Commission (1969–1973).
In response to the Royal Commission's report, James Callaghan's Labour government brought forward proposals to establish a Scottish Assembly. In November 1977 a Scotland Bill providing for the establishment of a Scottish Assembly was introduced; it received the Royal Assent on 31 July 1978.
Had the Scotland Act 1978 entered force, it would have created a Scottish Assembly with very limited legislative powers. There would have been a Scottish Executive headed by a "First Secretary", taking over some of the functions of the Secretary of State for Scotland. Two possible contenders for the post of First Secretary were the Reverend Geoff Shaw, leader of Strathclyde Regional Council, and Professor John P Mackintosh MP – but both died in 1978.
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