An image decoding method for decoding a picture (300, 400), the image decoding method comprising: decoding a dependent slice enabling flag which indicates that dependent slices are either enabled for the picture (300, 400) or are not enabled for the picture (300, 400), wherein a dependent slice (42, 43, 44) is a slice which is decoded at least partially using control information included in a header of a slice different from the dependent slice (42, 43, 44); determining a value indicating whether the picture is a random access picture, and, subsequent to determining that the picture is a random access picture: decoding a slice address indicating a starting position of a current slice of the picture(300, 400); and when the dependent slice enabling flag indicates the dependent slice is enabled for the picture (300, 400), decoding a dependency indication indicating whether or not the current slice is a dependent slice (42, 43, 44); wherein: the dependent slice enabling flag is disposed in a parameter set common to all slices of the picture (300, 400); the slice address is disposed in a slice header of the current slice; and, the dependency indication is disposed in the slice header of the current slice before the slice address and after a syntax element identifying the parameter set. decoding a dependent slice enabling flag which indicates that dependent slices are either enabled for the picture (300, 400) or are not enabled for the picture (300, 400), wherein a dependent slice (42, 43, 44) is a slice which is decoded at least partially using control information included in a header of a slice different from the dependent slice (42, 43, 44); determining a value indicating whether the picture is a random access picture, and, subsequent to determining that the picture is a random access picture: decoding a slice address indicating a starting position of a current slice of the picture(300, 400); and when the dependent slice enabling flag indicates the dependent slice is enabled for the picture (300, 400), decoding a dependency indication indicating whether or not the current slice is a dependent slice (42, 43, 44); wherein: the dependent slice enabling flag is disposed in a parameter set common to all slices of the picture (300, 400); the slice address is disposed in a slice header of the current slice; and, the dependency indication is disposed in the slice header of the current slice before the slice address and after a syntax element identifying the parameter set. decoding a slice address indicating a starting position of a current slice of the picture(300, 400); and when the dependent slice enabling flag indicates the dependent slice is enabled for the picture (300, 400), decoding a dependency indication indicating whether or not the current slice is a dependent slice (42, 43, 44); wherein: the dependent slice enabling flag is disposed in a parameter set common to all slices of the picture (300, 400); the slice address is disposed in a slice header of the current slice; and, the dependency indication is disposed in the slice header of the current slice before the slice address and after a syntax element identifying the parameter set. the dependent slice enabling flag is disposed in a parameter set common to all slices of the picture (300, 400); the slice address is disposed in a slice header of the current slice; and, the dependency indication is disposed in the slice header of the current slice before the slice address and after a syntax element identifying the parameter set.