Search Legislation

Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

Please note:

All reference to 'Parts' and 'sections' are from the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020. For other versions of these Explanatory Notes, see More Resources.

  1. Introduction

  2. Overview

  3. Provision by Provision Commentary

    1. Part 1: Disclosure of criminal history and other information

      1. Level 1 disclosures

        1. Section 1: Level 1 disclosure

        2. Section 2: Provision of Level 1 disclosures

        3. Section 3: Applications by accredited bodies on behalf of individuals

        4. Section 4: Provision of Level 1 disclosure to third parties

      2. Level 1 disclosures: review applications

        1. Section 5: Level 1 disclosure: application for review

        2. Section 6: Review of accuracy of information by the Scottish Ministers

        3. Section 7: Provision of new Level 1 disclosure on conclusion of review proceedings

      3. Level 2 disclosures

        1. Section 8: Level 2 disclosure

        2. Section 9: Non-disclosable convictions

        3. Section 10: Non-disclosable children’s hearing outcomes

        4. Section 11: Provision of Level 2 disclosures

        5. Section 12: Level 2 disclosure applications: countersigning and purposes

        6. Section 13: Childhood information

        7. Section 14: Provision of relevant Scottish police information

        8. Section 15: Provision of relevant overseas police information

        9. Section 16: Further information for certain purposes: non-PVG scheme members

        10. Section 17: Further information for certain purposes: PVG scheme members

        11. Section 18: Provision of Level 2 disclosure to accredited bodies

        12. Section 19: Crown employment

      4. Level 2 disclosures: review applications

        1. Section 20: Level 2 disclosure: application for review

        2. Section 21: Review of accuracy of information by the Scottish Ministers

        3. Section 22: Review of childhood information by the independent reviewer

        4. Section 23: Review of relevant Scottish police information by the police

        5. Section 24: Review of relevant Scottish police information by the independent reviewer

        6. Section 25: Review of inclusion of removable convictions by the Scottish Ministers

        7. Section 26: Review of inclusion of removable convictions by the independent reviewer

        8. Section 27: Combination of reviews by the independent reviewer

        9. Section 28: Independent reviewer: information and representations

        10. Section 29: Notification of independent reviewer’s decision

        11. Section 30: Appeal against independent reviewer’s decision

        12. Section 31: Provision of new Level 2 disclosure on conclusion of review proceedings

        13. Section 32: Disapplication of provisions of section 4 of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

      5. Level 2 disclosures: considering relevance and whether to include information

        1. Section 33: Level 2 disclosure: considering relevance and whether to include certain information

      6. Common provisions relating to Level 1 and Level 2 disclosures

        1. Section 34: Form and manner of provision of disclosures

        2. Section 35: Reclassification of applications

        3. Section 36: Regulations about procedure for disclosure requests

        4. Section 37: Regulations about review procedure

        5. Section 38: Power to modify definitions of Level 1 disclosure and Level 2 disclosure

        6. Section 39: Childhood information: power to modify other enactments

        7. Section 40: Presumption as to age in relation to convictions

      7. Offences relating to Level 1 and Level 2 disclosures

        1. Section 41: Falsification of a Level 1 or Level 2 disclosure

        2. Section 42: Unlawful disclosure of a Level 2 disclosure

        3. Section 43: Lawful disclosures of Level 2 disclosures

        4. Section 44: Unlawful request for and use of a Level 2 disclosure

        5. Section 45: Offences under sections 42 and 44: supplementary provision

      8. Accredited bodies

        1. Section 46: Register of accredited bodies

        2. Section 47: Registration in the register of accredited bodies

        3. Section 48: Protection of information: removal of registration

        4. Section 49: Suitable persons to have access to disclosure information

        5. Section 50: Removal of registration on other grounds

        6. Section 51: Lead signatories and countersignatories

        7. Section 52: Lead signatories and countersignatories: acceptance or refusal of nomination and removal from the register

        8. Section 53: Notification and review of decisions: removal from register or refusal of registration or nomination

        9. Section 54: Regulations about registration

        10. Section 55: Code of practice

        11. Section 56: Sharing of Level 2 disclosure information by accredited bodies

      9. Evidence of identity

        1. Section 57: Evidence of identity

        2. Section 58: Power to use personal data to check identity

        3. Section 59: Power to use fingerprints to check identity

      10. General

        1. Section 60: Form and manner of applications and notices

        2. Section 61: Fees

        3. Section 62: Fees for provision of information by the chief constable

        4. Section 63: Guidance for chief constable

        5. Section 64: Sharing of information with the chief constable

        6. Section 65: Sources of information

        7. Section 66: Delegation of functions of Scottish Ministers

        8. Section 67: Saving: disclosure of information and records

        9. Section 68: Definition of consideration of suitability

        10. Section 69: Interpretation of Part 1

    2. Part 2: Protection of vulnerable groups

      1. Scheme membership

        1. Section 70: Participation in Scheme

        2. Section 71: Duration of Scheme membership

        3. Section 72: Failure to apply for renewal of Scheme membership

        4. Section 73: Compulsory Scheme membership

      2. Regulated roles

        1. Section 74: Regulated roles

        2. Section 75: Meaning of “protected adult”

      3. Scheme members under consideration for listing

        1. Section 76: Conditions imposed on scheme members under consideration for listing

        2. Section 77: Notice of consideration for listing

        3. Section 78: Withdrawal from Scheme when under consideration for listing

      4. Notice of barred status

        1. Section 79: Notice of barred status

      5. Listing

        1. Section 80: Reference by chief constable

        2. Section 81: Removal of references by court

        3. Section 82: Reference by councils or integration joint boards

        4. Section 83: Application for removal from list

        5. Section 84: Ministers’ powers to remove from list

        6. Section 85: Appeals and removals: information power

      6. Confirmation of PVG Scheme membership

        1. Section 86: Confirmation of scheme membership under the PVG Act

      7. Miscellaneous

        1. Section 87: Retention of scheme records after removal

        2. Section 88: Offences outside Scotland

        3. Section 89: Guidance for chief constable

        4. Section 90: Meaning of “conviction”

    3. Part 3: General

      1. Section 91: Regulations

      2. Section 92: Ancillary provision

      3. Section 93: Consequential and minor modifications

      4. Section 94: Individual culpability where organisation commits offence

      5. Section 95: Meaning of “PVG Act”

      6. Section 96: Crown application

      7. Section 97: Commencement

      8. Section 98: Short title

    4. Schedule 1: List A offences

    5. Schedule 2: List B offences

    6. Schedule 3: Schedule to be substituted for schedule 2 of the PVG Act

      1. Part 1: Preliminary

      2. Part 2: Activities

      3. Part 3: General

    7. Schedule 4: Schedule to be substituted for schedule 3 of the PVG Act

      1. Part 1: Preliminary

      2. Part 2: Activities

      3. Part 3: General

    8. Schedule 5: Consequential and minor modifications

  4. Parliamentary History

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the Scottish Government to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Acts of the Scottish Parliament except those which result from Budget Bills.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources