The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (Applications for Removal from List and Late Representations) Regulations 2010

Regulation 6

SCHEDULE 1 PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING APPLICATIONS FOR REMOVAL FROM THE LIST UNDER SECTION 25 OF THE ACT

Acknowledgement of receipt of application for removal under section 25 of the Act

1.—(1) Where Ministers receive an application for removal from the list under section 25 of the Act, they must send an acknowledgement of its receipt to the individual within five working days.

(2) Where Ministers consider that insufficient information has been sent with the application to allow them to determine whether an appeal is competent under section 25(3)(b) of the Act, Ministers may, by notice, invite the individual to provide such further information as Ministers think appropriate, within 28 days of the date of the receipt of that notice.

(3) If the individual fails to provide such further information within the period specified under paragraph (2), the application is deemed to have been withdrawn.

Representations, comments or information to be sent to Ministers

2.—(1) For the purpose of enabling or assisting Ministers to determine whether to remove an individual from the list, Ministers may, by notice, invite—

(a) any further representations, comments or information from the individual as to why the individual should be removed from the list; or

(b) any representations, comments or information from any other person as Ministers may consider appropriate.

(2) Any representations, comments or information in response to a notice sent under sub‑paragraph (1) are to be supplied in the manner and within such time as Ministers may specify in the notice.

Notification of any further information on which Ministers intend to rely in determining whether to remove an individual from the list

3.  Ministers must give to the individual—

(a) details of any further representations, comments or information supplied to Ministers under paragraph 2(1)(b) on which they intend to rely in determining whether to remove an individual from the list;

(b) details of any other information upon which they intend to rely in determining whether to remove an individual from the list, including—

(i) any information which Ministers obtained under the Act or under the 2010 Regulations and upon which they relied when making their decision to list the individual under section 15 or 16 of the Act;

(ii) information which they obtain in pursuance of a requirement made under section 18, 19 or 20 of the Act;

(iii) information which they obtain by performing their functions in relation to the Scheme; or

(iv) any reports provided to Ministers under paragraph 5(2) or 6(2); and

(c) a notice inviting the individual to—

(i) make any further representations as to why the individual should be removed from the list;

(ii) submit comments on any of the information provided to the individual under sub-paragraphs (a) or (b); and

(iii) submit any further supporting information which the individual wishes to be taken into account by Ministers in determining whether to remove the individual from the list,

within 28 days of the date of the receipt of that notice.

Notification of further procedure

4.—(1) During their determination of whether to remove an individual from the list, Ministers may, if they consider it appropriate, appoint—

(a) an expert adviser to prepare a report to Ministers on such matters within the expert’s area of expertise as Ministers consider appropriate for the purpose of assisting Ministers in the Ministers’ assessment of the individual’s unsuitability to work with children, protected adults or, where applicable, both groups; or

(b) one or more such suitably qualified individuals as Ministers consider appropriate to prepare a report to Ministers providing an assessment of the individual’s unsuitability to work with children, protected adults or, where applicable, both groups.

(2) Where Ministers decide to appoint an expert adviser or suitably qualified individuals under sub-paragraph (1)(a) or (b) or both, they must notify the individual of that decision.

(3) For the avoidance of doubt, Ministers may decide to make appointments under either or both of sub-paragraph (1)(a) and (b) and may do so at the same time or at different times during their determination of whether to remove an individual from the list.

Report by expert adviser

5.—(1) Where Ministers appoint an expert adviser under paragraph 4(1)(a) they must give to that person all relevant information, which they have obtained in carrying out their functions under the Act, the 2010 Regulations or these Regulations and which is reasonably required by the expert adviser, and such information may include—

(a) a copy of the application for removal from the list under section 25 of the Act;

(b) details of any information relating to the individual which Ministers obtained under the Act or the 2010 Regulations and upon which they relied when making their decision to list the individual under section 15 or 16 of the Act;

(c) details of any vetting information relating to the individual;

(d) details of any information relating to the individual which Ministers obtain in pursuance of a requirement made under section 18, 19 or 20 of the Act;

(e) details of any information relating to the individual which Ministers obtain by performing their functions in relation to the Scheme; and

(f) details of any representations, comments and information received by Ministers under these Regulations.

(2) The person appointed under paragraph 4(1)(a) must provide their report to Ministers, in such manner and within such time as Ministers may specify.

Assessment by suitably qualified individuals

6.—(1) Where Ministers appoint one or more suitably qualified individuals to assess the individual’s unsuitability to work with children, protected adults or, where applicable, both groups under paragraph 4(1)(b) they must give to that person or persons all information upon which Ministers intend to rely in determining whether to remove an individual from the list and such information may include—

(a) a copy of the application for removal from the list under section 25 of the Act;

(b) details of any information relating to the individual which Ministers obtained under the Act or the 2010 Regulations and upon which they relied when making their decision to list the individual under section 15 or 16 of the Act;

(c) details of any vetting information relating to the individual;

(d) details of any information relating to the individual which Ministers obtain in pursuance of a requirement made under section 18, 19 or 20 of the Act;

(e) details of any information relating to the individual which Ministers obtain by performing their functions in relation to the Scheme;

(f) details of any representations, comments and information received by Ministers under these Regulations;

(g) a copy of any report provided to Ministers under paragraph 5(2).

(2) The person or persons appointed under paragraph 4(1)(b) must review the information supplied to them under sub-paragraph (1) and, based on that information, provide to Ministers a report containing their assessment as to the individual’s unsuitability to work with children, protected adults or, where applicable, both groups, in such manner and within such time as Ministers may specify.

Notification of determination of application for removal

7.—(1) Where Ministers determine under section 26(1)(a) or (2)(a) of the Act that an individual is to be removed from the list, Ministers must, as soon as reasonably practicable after making their determination, give notification to the individual of their determination.

(2) Where Ministers determine under section 26(1)(b) or (2)(b) that an individual is not to be removed from the list, Ministers must, as soon as reasonably practicable after making their determination, give notification to the individual of their determination, together with—

(a) the reasons for their determination;

(b) information as to the individual’s right of appeal under section 27 of the Act against the Ministers’ determination to refuse the application for removal from the list; and

(c) information as to the individual’s further right to seek removal from the list under section 25 of the Act and regulation 4.