Courts Act 2003

[F1 Inspections by other inspectors of organisations within inspectors' remit] E+W

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 3A inserted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 32(2), 53(1)(a); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(m) (subject to arts. 6, 7)

3 (1) If—

(a) a person or body within sub-paragraph (2) is proposing to carry out an inspection that would involve inspecting a specified organisation, and

(b) the Chief Inspector considers that the proposed inspection would impose an unreasonable burden on that organisation, or would do so if carried out in a particular manner,

the Chief Inspector shall, subject to sub-paragraph (6), give a notice to that person or body not to carry out the proposed inspection, or not to carry it out in that manner.

(2) The persons or bodies within this sub-paragraph are—

(a) the Audit Commission for Local Government and the National Health Service in England and Wales;

(b) any other person or body specified by an order made by the Lord Chancellor.

(3) In sub-paragraph (1)(a) “specified organisation” means a person or body specified by an order made by the Lord Chancellor.

(4) A person or body may be specified under sub-paragraph (3) only if it exercises functions in relation to any matter falling with the scope of the duties of the inspectors of court administration under section 59 of this Act.

(5) A person or body may be specified under sub-paragraph (3) in relation to particular functions that it has.

In the case of a person or body so specified, sub-paragraph (1)(a) is to be read as referring to an inspection that would involve inspecting the discharge of any of its functions in relation to which it is specified.

(6) The Lord Chancellor may by order specify cases or circumstances in which a notice need not, or may not, be given under this paragraph.

(7) Where a notice is given under this paragraph, the proposed inspection is not to be carried out, or (as the case may be) is not to be carried out in the manner mentioned in the notice.

This is subject to sub-paragraph (8).

(8) The Lord Chancellor, if satisfied that the proposed inspection—

(a) would not impose an unreasonable burden on the organisation in question, or

(b) would not do so if carried out in a particular manner,

may give consent to the inspection being carried out, or being carried out in that manner.

(9) The Lord Chancellor may by order make provision supplementing that made by this paragraph, including in particular—

(a) provision about the form of notices;

(b) provision prescribing the period within which notices are to be given;

(c) provision prescribing circumstances in which notices are, or are not, to be made public;

(d) provision for revising or withdrawing notices;

(e) provision for setting aside notices not validly given.