1 Scottish Tourist Board: change of name

(1) The Scottish Tourist Board is renamed VisitScotland.

(2) Accordingly, in the Development of Tourism Act 1969 (c. 51), for “the Scottish Tourist Board”, wherever that expression occurs, there is substituted “VisitScotland”.

2 Scottish Tourist Board: increase in maximum number of members

In section 1(3) of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 (which provides for the maximum number of members of the national tourist boards), for “six” where it secondly occurs, there is substituted “eleven”.

3 Abolition of area tourist boards

(1) Sections 172 to 175 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (c. 39) (which make provision for area tourist boards) are repealed.

(2) The following bodies are dissolved—

(a) the Scottish Network 1 Tourist Board, and

(b) the Scottish Network 2 Tourist Board.

(3) Schedule 1 makes provision in connection with the dissolution of those bodies.

4 Consequential modifications

Schedule 2 makes modifications of enactments in consequence of the preceding provisions.

5 Commencement and short title

(1) The preceding provisions come into force on such day as the Scottish Ministers may by order made by statutory instrument appoint.

(2) This Act may be cited as the Tourist Boards (Scotland) Act 2006.

SCHEDULE 1 Dissolution of existing area tourist boards

(introduced by section 3)

Transfer of staff

1 (1) On the dissolution of a network tourist board, each person employed by the board immediately before its dissolution transfers to and becomes a member of staff of VisitScotland.

(2) The contract of employment of such a person—

(a) is not terminated by the transfer, and

(b) has effect from the date of the transfer as if originally made between that person and VisitScotland.

(3) Without prejudice to sub-paragraph (2), where a person becomes a member of the staff of VisitScotland under sub-paragraph (1)—

(a) all the rights, powers, duties and liabilities of the board from which that person is transferred under or in connection with that person’s contract of employment are by virtue of this sub-paragraph transferred to VisitScotland on the date of the transfer, and

(b) anything done before that date by or in relation to the board from which that person is transferred in respect of that contract of employment or that person is to be treated from that date as having been done by, or in relation to, VisitScotland.

(4) This paragraph does not prejudice any right of any person to terminate that person’s contract of employment if the terms and conditions of employment are changed substantially to the detriment of the person; but such a change is not to be taken to have occurred by reason only that the identity of that person’s employer changes by virtue of this paragraph.

Transfer of property and liabilities

2 (1) On the dissolution of a network tourist board, the property and liabilities to which the board was entitled or subject immediately before its dissolution transfer to and vest in VisitScotland.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) has effect in relation to property and liabilities to which it applies despite any provision (of whatever nature) which would otherwise prevent, penalise or restrict the transfer of the property or liabilities.

Interpretation

3 In this schedule, “network tourist board” means a body mentioned in section 3(2).