The Scottish Ministers may by order provide for the accounts of a company having its registered office in Scotland to be audited by the Auditor General for Scotland.
An order under subsection (1) may be made in relation to a company only if it appears to the Scottish Ministers that the company—
exercises in or as regards Scotland functions of a public nature none of which relate to reserved matters (within the meaning of the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46)), or
is entirely or substantially funded from a body having accounts falling within paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (3).
Those accounts are—
accounts in relation to which section 21 of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 1) (audit of accounts: Auditor General for Scotland) applies,
accounts which are subject to audit by the Auditor General for Scotland by virtue of an order under this section.
An order under subsection (1) may make such supplementary or consequential provision (including provision amending an enactment) as the Scottish Ministers think expedient.
An order under subsection (1) shall not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the Scottish Parliament.