Interpretation of Acts of the Scottish Parliament etc.

1 This section applies to— a any provision of an Act of the Scottish Parliament, or of a Bill for such an Act, and b any provision of subordinate legislation made, confirmed or approved, or purporting to be made, confirmed or approved, by a member of the Scottish Government , which could be read in such a way as to be outside competence. 2 Such a provision is to be read as narrowly as is required for it to be within competence, if such a reading is possible, and is to have effect accordingly. 3 In this section “ competence ”— a in relation to an Act of the Scottish Parliament, or a Bill for such an Act, means the legislative competence of the Parliament, and b in relation to subordinate legislation, means the powers conferred by virtue of this Act.