2010 No. 462
The Advice and Assistance (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010
Made
Laid before the Scottish Parliament
Coming into force
The Scottish Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 36(1) and (2)(e) and 42 of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 19861 and all other powers enabling them to do so.
Citation and commencement1
These Regulations may be cited as the Advice and Assistance (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 and come into force on 31st January 2011.
Application2
1
Regulations 4 and 6 apply only in relation to advice and assistance made available on or after 31st January 2011.
2
Regulation 5 applies only in relation to applications for advice and assistance made on or after 31st January 2011.
Amendment of the Advice and Assistance (Scotland) Regulations 1996
3
The Advice and Assistance (Scotland) Regulations 19962 are amended as follows.
4
After regulation 21 insert—
Right of Board to withhold payment or recover sums paid out of the Fund in relation to non-criminal matters22
1
Paragraph (3) applies where the Board finds that the provision of advice and assistance (other than advice and assistance in relation to criminal matters)—
a
was not (wholly or partly) in accordance with the relevant rules applying by virtue of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986; or
b
was otherwise unjustified in the circumstances of the case (including by reason of inadequate assessment or verification of any relevant factor).
2
In considering whether or not the provision of advice and assistance was in accordance with the relevant rules, the Board may have regard to any guidance it has issued in relation to the application of those rules.
3
The Board may—
a
withhold (wholly) payment from the Fund in respect of the advice and assistance provided; or
b
if such payment has been made, fully recover it.
5
In Schedule 2 (assessment of disposable capital and disposable income)—
a
omit paragraph 2;
b
in paragraph 2A(1) omit “in relation to a criminal matter”; and
c
after paragraph 4 insert—
4A
1
Subject to sub-paragraph (3), if the person concerned is a child the resources of any person who owes an obligation of aliment to the child under section 1(1)(c) or (d) of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 19853 are to be treated as part of the child’s own resources.
2
In sub-paragraph (1), “child” has the meaning given in section 1(5) of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985.
3
Sub-paragraph (1) applies only—
i
in respect of advice and assistance in relation to non-criminal matters; and
ii
if its application in the particular circumstances would not be unjust or inequitable.
Revocations6
Regulation 3 of the Advice and Assistance and Civil Legal Aid (Transfer of Tribunal Functions) (No. 1) (Scotland) Regulations 20104 is revoked.
(This note is not part of the Regulations)