(1)The Scottish Ministers must, as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each review period—
(a)review the operation of support services provided, by virtue of regulations under section 179D(1) of the 2011 Act, to persons mentioned in section 179D(2) of that Act, and
(b)prepare a report on the provision of such support services to those persons.
(2)The review must in particular—
(a)assess the effectiveness of support services by reference to, among other things, the number of, and feedback from, persons to whom those services are provided,
(b)identify the steps (if any) that the Scottish Ministers consider should be taken as a result of that assessment.
(3)In carrying out the review, the Scottish Ministers must consult—
(a)the National Convener of Children’s Hearings Scotland,
(b)the Principal Reporter,
(c)the single point of contact established or specified by virtue of section 179D(3) of the 2011 Act,
(d)each local authority,
(e)persons who are providing support services to persons in relation to offences perpetrated against or in respect of those persons,
(f)such other persons as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.
(4)The report prepared under subsection (1)(b) must be—
(a)laid before the Scottish Parliament, and
(b)published in such manner as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.
(5)In this section—
“review period” means the period of 2 years beginning with the day on which regulations under section 179D(1) of the 2011 Act first come into force and each subsequent period of 2 years,
“support services” has the same meaning as in section 179D(8) of the 2011 Act.