Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/1/notes/division/3/data.xht?view=snippet&wrap=true
Timestamp: 2019-02-19 16:22:15
Document Index: 616291642

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 6', 'art 7']

Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 1) - Explanatory Notes
Section 2 - Standards of Service
11.Section 2 provides that certain persons must set and publish standards in relation to the services which those bodies provide to victims and witnesses, and set out their complaints procedure. The persons are the Lord Advocate, the Scottish Ministers, the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland, SCS and PBS.
12.Subsection (3)(a) provides that the duty on the Lord Advocate applies only in relation to functions relating to the investigation and prosecution of crime. Subsection (3)(b) provides that the duty on the Scottish Ministers applies only in relation to functions relating to prisons and young offenders institutions and the persons detained in them. The purpose of these restrictions is to identify the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and SPS as the particular bodies to which this duty is intended to apply. As described in relation to section 1, the duty cannot be placed specifically on SPS, and the same is true of COPFS, which is a Ministerial Department. Both COPFS and SPS will be expected to set out distinct standards of service. Subsection (3)(c) provides that, in relation to the other persons named in subsection (2), the duty applies to any functions.
13.Subsection (4) places a duty on the persons named in subsection (2) to consult with each other and with such other persons who appear to have a significant interest in the standards of service, before publishing standards under subsection (1).
14.Subsection (5) enables the Scottish Ministers to modify the list of persons to whom the obligation to set and publish standards applies and to modify subsections (1), (3) and (6) so far as is necessary or expedient as a consequence of any modification of subsection (2). Subsection (6) provides that the term “victim” includes a prescribed relative of a victim, and subsection (7) enables the Scottish Ministers to prescribe by order those relatives to be included in the definition of victim in this context.
Section 4 – Rules: review of decision not to prosecute
16.Section 4(1) provides that the Lord Advocate must prepare and publish rules about the process for carrying out a review of a decision not to prosecute someone for an offence, when a person who is a victim, or appears to be a victim, of the offence requests such a review.
17.Section 4(2) sets out that the rules may, in particular, detail the circumstances in which a review may be carried out, the manner in which a request for a review must be made and the information to be included in such a request. Rules may also detail what information should be taken into account and the process that should be followed by the Lord Advocate when carrying out a review.
18.Section 4(3) sets out that the definition of “prosecutor” for the purposes of this section means the Lord Advocate, crown counsel or procurator fiscal.
Section 5 – Restorative justice
19.Section 5 provides that the Scottish Ministers may issue guidance about the referral of victims or alleged victims and offenders or alleged offenders to restorative justice services, and about the provision of such services to those persons. The Scottish Ministers may also specify, by order, persons or classes of persons who must have regard to any guidance issued. A definition of “restorative justice services” is provided at subsection (3).
Section 6 – Disclosure of information about criminal proceedings
20.Section 6 requires the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland, SCS, and any prosecutor to disclose certain information to victims and witnesses of criminal offences (or alleged criminal offences) on request.
21.The persons who can seek information are: a person who appears to be a victim of the offence or alleged offence; prescribed relatives of such a person where the person’s death was caused, or appears to have been caused, by the offence or alleged offence; those who are to give, or are likely to give, evidence in criminal proceedings in relation to the offence or alleged offence; and those who have given a statement to a police officer or prosecutor in relation to the offence or alleged offence. The information to be disclosed is set out in subsection (7).
22.Subsection (4) applies to requests under subsection (1) where the requested “qualifying information” is a decision not to proceed with a criminal investigation and any reasons for it; a decision to end a criminal investigation and any reasons for it; or, a decision not to institute criminal proceedings against a person and any reasons for it. Under subsection (4), where such information is requested, a “qualifying person” under subsection (6) (i.e. the police, prosecutor or SCS) must not comply with a request for disclosure of that information where it would result in the disclosure of information supplied by a Minister of the Crown or UK Government department and held in confidence by the qualifying person.
23.The general exception to the obligation to provide information to those persons mentioned in subsection (2) is set out in subsection (5). Subsection (5) provides that qualifying information need not be disclosed in so far as the qualifying person considers that disclosure would be inappropriate.
24.Subsection (6) provides that the information which can be requested (referred to as “qualifying information”) must fall within the types of information set out in subsection (7); relate to the offence or alleged offence; and be specified in a request under subsection (1). It also specifies the persons on whom this obligation falls (referred to as “qualifying persons”) and states that “prescribed” where it appears in subsection (2)(b) means prescribed by the Scottish Ministers by order.
25.The Scottish Ministers may, under subsection (8), modify the list of information which must be provided under subsection (7) and the list of persons who must provide such information detailed in subsection (6).
Section 7 - Interviews with children: guidance
26.This section provides that police officers and social workers must have due regard to guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers when carrying out joint investigative interviews with a child witness under the age of 18 in relation to criminal proceedings or a matter which may lead to criminal proceedings. Subsection (4) allows the Scottish Ministers to modify by order the list of persons to whom the obligation applies. Defining “child” as anyone under 18 is in line with the EU Directive establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime (2012/29/EU) (which defines “child witness” for the purposes of criminal proceedings as any person below 18 years of age) and various other Directives (for example, on trafficking of human beings and child sexual exploitation). Lord Carloway’s Report into criminal law and practice also recommends that “for the purposes of arrest, detention and questioning, a child should be defined as anyone under the age of 18 years.”
Section 8 – Certain sexual offences: victim’s right to specify gender of interviewer
27.This section allows victims or alleged victims of certain types of offence to specify the gender of the investigating officer who is to carry out the interview. The types of offences are sexual offences; human trafficking; an offence the commission of which involves domestic abuse and stalking.
28.Subsection (4) provides that the investigating officer need not comply with a request for a specified gender of interviewer if doing so would be likely to prejudice the criminal investigation (for example, if the investigation is time critical and no officers of the specified gender are currently available), or if doing so would not be reasonably practicable. Subsection (6) provides that any failure to comply has no effect on any relevant criminal proceedings.
29.The section also allows the Scottish Ministers to modify by order the list of types of offences to which this section applies and the definition of “investigating officer”.
Section 24 – Duty to consider making compensation order
59.This section inserts new subsections (4A) to (4D) into section 249 of the 1995 Act, placing new duties on the court in relation to compensation orders. Subsection (4A) provides that, in cases where the court could make a compensation order, it must consider whether to do so. Previously, where the court could impose a compensation order (for example where there has been a personal injury to the victim caused directly or indirectly) there was no obligation for the court to consider doing so.
60.Subsection (4B) provides that the court must take steps to ascertain the views and wishes of the victim before making a compensation order. In accordance with subsection (4C), if the victim notifies the court that they do not want compensation from the offender, the court may not impose a compensation order on the offender in favour of that victim.
Section 25 – Restitution order
61.This section inserts new sections 253A to 253E into the 1995 Act, to deal with the establishment and operation of restitution orders.
62.Subsection (1) of new section 253A establishes that that section shall apply to persons who are convicted of an offence under section 90(1) (police assault etc.) of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (“the 2012 Act”).
63.Subsection (2) establishes the restitution order alongside other penalties (such as imprisonment, fines, Community Payback Orders etc.) as a penalty which may be imposed on persons convicted under section 90(1) of the 2012 Act. It also sets the upper limit of these orders in line with the prescribed sum (as defined in section 225(8) of the 1995 Act). Subsection (3) establishes that the Scottish Ministers have the power by regulations (subject to the negative procedure) to vary this upper limit.
64.Subsection (4) requires that the proceeds of restitution orders are to be paid to the clerk of court or any other person authorised by the Scottish Ministers. This is the same as for fines.
65.Subsection (1) of new section 253B establishes that the person to whom, under new section 253A(3), the proceeds of a restitution order are paid, must pass those proceeds on to the Scottish Ministers. Subsection (2) provides that, in turn, the Scottish Ministers must pass on the proceeds to a new fund, to be known as the Restitution Fund.
66.Subsection (3) provides for the establishment, maintenance and administration of the Restitution Fund for the purpose of securing the provision of support services to persons who have been assaulted as mentioned in section 90(1) of the 2012 Act. Subsection (4) ensures that payments may be made only to persons providing or securing the provision of support services (as defined in subsection (8)) for victims of the section 90(1) offence or to the operator of the Restitution Fund in respect of the costs of administering the Fund.
67.Subsection (5) allows the Scottish Ministers to delegate, by order, the establishment, maintenance and administration of the Restitution Fund to another individual or body. Subsection (6) allows the Scottish Ministers to make further provision, by order, for the administration of the Restitution Fund, including who may benefit from it, how payments can be made from it, and the keeping of records and the making of reports by the operator. Any orders made in exercise of these powers are subject to the affirmative procedure.
68.Subsection (1) of new section 253C deals with the possibility that a person found guilty of an offence under section 90(1) of the 2012 Act may have a sentence imposed which could include three different financial penalties: a restitution order, a fine and a compensation order. The convicted person may have insufficient means to pay all three. In this case, in accordance with subsection (2), the court is to prefer imposing a compensation order, then a restitution order, and finally a fine.
69.Subsection (3) deals with the situation where a court considers it would be appropriate to impose two financial penalties; a restitution order and either a compensation order or a fine. In this case, under subsection (4), where the convicted person may have insufficient means to pay both, again the court should consider imposing a compensation order before a restitution order, and a restitution order before a fine.
70.Subsection (1) of new section 253D applies where a court has actually imposed a restitution order and either or both of a compensation order and a fine. Subsection (2) adopts the same logic as in new section 253C, and ensures that any payment made by the convicted individual is applied first to any compensation order, until such time as it is fully paid, then to any restitution order, until such time as that has been full paid, and then to any fine.
71.Subsection (1) of new section 253E states that a number of provisions in the 1995 Act shall apply to restitution orders in the same way as they do to fines. The provisions in question are listed in subsection (2). These include matters to do with the enforcement (sections 211 and 212 of the 1995 Act), remission (section 213), part-payment (section 220), recovery (section 221), transfer (sections 222 and 223) and mutual recognition of fines (sections 223A-T), as well as what to do in the case of default (section 216), supervision pending payment (section 217) and provisions about time for their payment (sections 214 and 215), disqualification from driving (section 248B) and imprisonment as means of enforcement or punishment for default (section 219), and discharge from imprisonment (section 224). All these provisions are to apply to restitution orders in the same way as they do to fines. Subsection (3), moreover, provides that a court may impose imprisonment as a means of punishing default on payment of a fine, but decline to do so for a restitution order but not vice versa. In addition, by virtue of that subsection, where imprisonment is used to punish default on payment of both a fine and a restitution order their amounts shall be aggregated to establish the appropriate duration of that imprisonment.
Section 26 – Victim surcharge
72.This section inserts new sections 253F to 253J into the 1995 Act, establishing a victim surcharge and providing for its operation.
73.Section 253F provides that the court must impose a victim surcharge on offenders who are subject to any sentence prescribed by the Scottish Ministers by regulations. However, a victim surcharge is not to be imposed where a restitution order has been imposed, or in relation to an offence or offence of a class prescribed by the Scottish Ministers. The Scottish Ministers may, by regulations, set out the amount of the victim surcharge, which can be different for different types of offender or for different circumstances (for example, this would allow a scale of surcharge amounts to be established, to reflect different sentences imposed). The Scottish Ministers may also, by regulations, set out circumstances in which the court is not to impose a victim surcharge. Subsection (3) sets out that if a person is convicted of multiple offences in the same proceedings, there will only be one surcharge imposed and, where different amounts have been prescribed for different offenders or circumstances, the Scottish Ministers may provide by regulations which victim surcharge is payable in those circumstances. Subsection (4) sets out that the surcharge is to be paid to the clerk of court or any other person authorised by the Scottish Ministers.
74.Section 253G establishes the Victim Surcharge Fund (VSF). Subsections (1) and (2) provide that the person who collects the victim surcharge (Scottish Court Service, unless the Scottish Ministers authorise anyone else for this purpose under section 253F(4)) must pass the sum collected to the Scottish Ministers; and that the Scottish Ministers must then pay this amount into the VSF. Subsection (3) requires the Scottish Ministers to establish, maintain and administer the VSF for the purpose of securing support services for persons who are or appear to be victims of crime and their prescribed relatives. Subsection (4) sets out that the VSF can only be used to make payments to a person who is or appears to be a victim of crime and prescribed relatives of such a person, or to those who provide or secure the provision of victim support services, or to the operator of the VSF in respect of the costs of administering the VSF. Where the Scottish Ministers have delegated the establishment, maintenance and administration of the VSF, by virtue of subsection (5), the costs of administering the VSF may only be recovered with the consent of the Scottish Ministers.
75.Subsection (5) allows the Scottish Ministers to delegate responsibility for establishing, maintaining and administering the VSF to a third party. The Scottish Ministers are given a regulation making power in section 253G(6) to make further provision about the administration of the VSF. An order under subsection (5) and regulations under subsection (6) are subject to the affirmative procedure by virtue of subsection (7). Subsection (8) provides a definition of “support services”. Subsection (9) provides that any regulations under subsections (3), (4) and (8) (prescribing the relatives of victims who may receive support services funded by the VSF or direct payment from the VSF) are to be subject to the negative procedure.
76.Section 253H details the order in which payments must be made when an offender incurs more than one financial penalty in relation to the same proceedings. Payments must be made firstly towards any compensation order to the victim, then to the victim surcharge, then the fine.
77.Section 253J provides that the provisions in the 1995 Act listed in subsection (2) shall apply to the victim surcharge in the same way as they do to fines. As with restitution orders (see paragraph 72), these include matters to do with the enforcement, remission, part-payment, recovery, transfer and mutual recognition of fines, as well as what to do in the case of default and provisions about time for their payment, disqualification from driving and imprisonment as means of enforcement or punishment for default, and discharge from imprisonment. Subsection (3) provides that a court may impose imprisonment as a means of punishing default on payment of a fine, but decline to do so for the victim surcharge but not vice versa. In addition, by virtue of that subsection, where imprisonment is used to punish default on payment of both a fine and the victim surcharge their amounts shall be aggregated to establish the appropriate duration of that imprisonment.
Release of offender: victim’s rights
Section 27 –Victim’s right to receive information about release of offender etc.
78.Previously, under section 16 of the 2003 Act, victims of certain prescribed offences could receive information about the release of offenders (and some other relevant information). The information mainly related to the circumstances in which a prisoner leaves prison. This may be due to temporary release, an escape, transfer to a prison outwith Scotland, release on licence or parole, death of the prisoner or end of sentence. Section 27 amends section 16 of the 2003 Act to remove the reference to prescribed offences. As a result, victims of any offence will be able to receive information under this section. Section 27 also provides that the information to be given to victims under section 16 of the 2003 Act includes information that the prisoner is for the first time entitled to be considered for temporary release.
Section 28 – Life prisoners: victim’s right to make oral representations before release on licence
79.This section amends section 17 of the 2003 Act to enable victims to make oral representations to the Parole Board, as well as written representations, when a prisoner becomes eligible for release on licence. This will only apply to life prisoners initially, but an order making power is also inserted to allow the Scottish Ministers to extend this ability in relation to other categories of prisoner.
80.Subsection (b) amends section 17 of the 2003 Act to provide that the Scottish Ministers can set out, in guidance, how both written and oral representations should be made (previously this power to issue guidance only related to written representations). Subsection (c) inserts new subsection 10A into section 17 of the 2003 Act. This allows the Scottish Ministers, when setting a time limit for representations to be made, to set different time limits for written and oral representations.
Section 29 – Temporary release: victim’s right to make representations
81.This section adds a new section 17A to the 2003 Act to allow victims, who are registered on the Victim Notification Scheme (VNS) and who have expressed the wish to do so, to make written representations about the licence conditions that may be imposed when a prisoner first becomes eligible for temporary release from prison.
General functions of NCF
85.Section 30 sets out the general functions of the Forum in a new section 4ZB of the Mental Health Act (referred to as the “NCF functions”). The principal function of the Forum is to give people who were placed in institutional care as children the opportunity to describe, in confidence, their experiences of that care, including any abuse experienced during the time spent in care. The descriptions of being in care which people will recount to the members of the Forum are referred to as “testimony”.
86.The Forum is to acknowledge the experiences of people placed in institutional care as children by enabling them to give testimony at hearings of the Forum or in other ways, for example, in writing or by video or phone link.
87.A further function of the Forum is to identify patterns and trends in relation to institutional child care provision, including issues concerning abuse, based on the information provided to it by participants and, subsequently, to make recommendations for the improvement of institutional child care provision in the future.
88.The Forum is also empowered to produce reports on its work and any recommendations arising from the information it receives from people placed in institutional care as children. These reports will be available to the public but the identity of participants in the Forum, other persons and institutions will not be disclosed.
89.The final function of the Forum is to provide people who are considering taking part in hearings of the Forum (and those who do take part in such hearings) with information about sources of assistance and advice.
Carrying out NCF functions
90.Section 30 inserts section 4ZC into the Mental Health Act to require, in section 4ZC(1), the Commission to delegate the functions, set out above, to the Forum. This requires the NCF functions to be delegated to a distinct entity within the Commission, enabling a significant degree of operational independence for the Forum within the accountability structure of the Commission.
91.Section 4ZC(2) provides that the person appointed to chair the Forum (the “NCF Head”) is to account to the Commission for the work of the Forum in discharging its functions effectively.
92.Section 4ZC(3) makes explicit that, despite the delegation of functions and the accountability of the Head of NCF, the Commission will retain responsibility for ensuring that the Forum carries out its functions.
Further modifications in relation to NCF
93.Section 30 inserts section 4ZD into the Mental Health Act.
94.Section 4ZD(1)(a) sets out which functions and duties currently undertaken by the Commission will not apply to the Forum. In particular, the duty to monitor Part 1 of the Mental Health Act, to bring to the attention of the Scottish Ministers matters concerning the operation of that legislation and to advise on such matters do not apply to the Forum. The functions of the Commission relating to the publishing of information (including statistical information), particularly about investigations and inquiries, are also expressly disapplied by section 4ZD(1)(a).
95.Section 4ZD(1)(c) prevents the Commission from publishing anything in its annual reports which creates a real risk of identifying: a person in institutional care as a child, a person who experienced or committed abuse or an establishment providing institutional care. This does not apply where the information is already in the public domain.
96.Section 4ZD(1)(d) inserts section 20(1A) into the Mental Health Act to offer protection to the Forum, its members and staff, and participants from an action for defamation.
97.The effect of this protection is that the Forum, and its members and staff, will not be able to be sued for defamation as a result of statements they make, in good faith, while carrying out the work of the Forum. This is akin to the protection provided to members and staff of the Commission.
98.The protection offered to participants in the Forum from an action for defamation is in relation to any statement they make to the Forum and is, therefore, a higher level of protection than that offered to the Forum, its members and staff. This level of protection is to ensure that people who come forward to participate in the Forum can be assured in advance that what they say in information provided to the Forum cannot be used by anyone to found an action of defamation.
99.Section 4ZD(2) amends the Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011 to insert a new subsection (8A) into section 1 of that Act to require the Commission to prepare a records management plan in relation to the NCF functions. This is to be separate from the Commission’s records management plan to further safeguard the confidentiality of testimony and other information given to the Forum by people placed in institutional care as children.
Section 31 – NCF: constitution and operation
100.Section 31(1) extends the maximum membership of the Commission from 8 to 9 members to enable the appointment of an additional member, selected specifically for their skills, experience and knowledge as considered by the Scottish Ministers to be relevant to the work and functions of the Forum.
Section 31 – Schedule 1A
101.Schedule 1A is introduced by section 4ZA(2) and is inserted into the Mental Health Act by section 31(2).
Schedule 1A – Part 1 – Members of the National Confidential Forum
102.Part 1 sets out the membership of the Forum, the appointment of its members and staff and the powers and procedure of the Forum.
103.Paragraph 1(1) provides that the Forum is to consist of the NCF Head and no fewer than two other members, all of whom will be appointed by the Scottish Ministers.
104.Paragraph 1(2) provides that the Scottish Ministers must make these appointments having regard to the recommendation of the selection panel (mentioned in paragraph 2(1)). Each member of the Forum is to be appointed for such period as the Scottish Ministers think fit (paragraph 1(3)).
105.Paragraph 1(4) provides that members of the Forum may resign by providing written notice to the Scottish Ministers, and that the Scottish Ministers must then inform the Commission of any such resignation (paragraph 1(5)).
Membership selection panel
106.Paragraph 2(1) provides that members of the Forum are to be selected by a membership selection panel, the composition of which is set out in that paragraph. The Scottish Ministers are able to determine, in addition to the members of the selection panel set out in paragraph 2(1), that others be included in that selection panel.
107.Paragraphs 2(2), (3) and (4) provide that a membership selection panel is to determine the selection process and can recommend for appointment those who, in the panel’s view, have the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out the work of the Forum (excluding members of the Commission).
National Confidential Forum staff
108.Paragraph 3 provides that the appointment of staff to the Forum requires the recommendation of the Forum Head and that such staff are only to carry out the functions of the Forum.
Powers and procedure of the National Confidential Forum
109.Paragraph 4(1) empowers the Forum to do anything which is necessary or expedient in order for it to carry out its functions.
110.Paragraph 4(2) specifically empowers the Head of the Forum to determine the procedure of the Forum, having regard to the views of the other members of the Forum. This reflects the leadership role held by the NCF Head.
111.Paragraph 4(3) sets out the requirement that the Forum should have regard to the need to avoid any unnecessary cost to public funds, to participants and others in undertaking its work and carrying out its functions.
112.Paragraph 4(4) provides that proceedings of the Forum will not be invalidated because of a vacancy in the membership or a defect in the appointment of a member.
113.Paragraph 4(5) specifically excludes members of the Scottish Government or other persons authorised by the Scottish Government from taking part in the meetings of the Forum.
Application of schedule 1 to the National Confidential Forum
114.Paragraph 5 disapplies certain powers of the Commission in relation to the Forum.
Schedule 1A – Part 2 – Delegation of functions
115.Part 2 sets out arrangements for the delegation of the NCF functions.
Delegation by the National Confidential Forum
116.Paragraph 6 requires the Forum to delegate its functions to the NCF Head, other members of the Forum or staff, the extent of which is to be determined by the NCF Head.
117.Paragraph 6 also enables the delegation of functions by the Forum to the NCF Head, other members of the Forum or staff, the extent of which is to be determined by the Forum.
118.Paragraph 6 makes explicit that such delegation does not affect the Forum’s responsibility, or the accountability of the NCF Head, for the functions of the Forum.
Schedule 1A – Part 3 – Eligibility to participate in the National Confidential Forum
119.Part 3 sets out who will be eligible to participate in the Forum.
120.Paragraph 7(1) provides that the Forum may hear testimony from people who have made an application to participate in a hearing of the Forum and whose application has been accepted.
121.Paragraph 7(2) provides that any person aged 16 or over, who was placed in an establishment providing institutional care as a child for any length of time and who is no longer in that care, may apply to participate in the Forum.
122.Paragraph 7(3) provides that the term “institutional care”, for the purposes of the Forum, means a care or health service which meets the conditions set out paragraph in 7(4) and is of a description or type prescribed by order made by the Scottish Ministers.
123.Paragraph 7(5) provides that services provided at premises used mainly or wholly as a private dwelling (which would include the supervision of children at home, foster care and kinship care) cannot be prescribed in an order under paragraph 7(3).
Schedule 1A – Part 4 – Conduct of Hearings
124.Part 4 sets out how the hearings of the Forum will be conducted.
125.Paragraph 8(2) requires the Forum to make arrangements for participants to give testimony, either at a hearing of the Forum or by other means whether in writing or orally.
126.Paragraph 8(3) requires that at least two members of the Forum be present at a hearing and that hearings be held in private.
127.Paragraph 8(4) explains that a Forum hearing is defined as being “private” provided no one other than the person giving testimony, anyone accompanying that person and members of the Forum and Forum staff are present.
128.Paragraph 8(5) enables the Forum to determine its own procedures for hearing testimony, otherwise than is provided for in paragraph 8. This is subject to the duty to avoid any unnecessary cost to public funds, participants or others in undertaking its work and carrying out its functions.
Recording of testimony
129.Paragraph 9 provides that the Forum may decide how it will record testimony and any other information it receives from persons who take part in hearings. In practice, this may include audio recording or recording in writing and could be undertaken with the participant face-to-face or remotely.
130.Paragraph 9(2) sets out a requirement that the Forum take steps, as soon as reasonably practicable, to organise the information it receives so as to preserve confidentiality, in particular the anonymity of the person giving the testimony and any other individuals or institutions mentioned in testimony.
131.Paragraph 10 authorises the Forum to require the Commission to pay reasonable expenses to participants and those who accompany participants to Forum hearings. This will comprise travel and subsistence associated with participation in the Forum.
Schedule 1A – Part 5 – Reporting
132.Part 5 sets out arrangements by which the Forum may prepare reports and is required to produce an Annual Report.
133.Paragraph 11 empowers the Forum to prepare reports based on the information provided to it at hearings.
134.Paragraph 11(2) requires that a report produced by the Forum must not identify or include information which creates a real risk of identifying persons who were placed in institutional care as children, persons alleged to have experienced or committed abuse or institutions.
135.Paragraph 11(3) provides that paragraph 11(2) does not prevent the Forum from preparing a report which includes information which is already in the public domain.
136.Paragraph 12 requires the Forum to prepare a report each year on progress made in discharging the functions of the NCF (covering the 12 month period up to the end of March) and to submit that report to the Scottish Ministers. Annual Reports of the Forum are subject to the same requirements of confidentiality which apply to the other reports produced by the Forum.
137.Paragraph 12(2) provides that the Forum must consult the Commission before preparing its Annual Report and paragraph 12(4) requires the Forum to send a copy of its Annual Report to the Commission.
138.Paragraph 12(5) provides that the Scottish Ministers must lay before the Scottish Parliament a copy of each Annual Report of the Forum.
Schedule 1A – Part 6 - Confidentiality
139.Part 6 sets out arrangements to ensure the confidentiality, as far as possible, of information obtained by the Forum in the course of carrying out its functions.
140.Paragraphs 13(1) and (2) make express provision that certain persons listed are not to disclose information provided to them in connection with the work of the Forum and which is not otherwise in the public domain.
141.Paragraph 13(2) does not prevent the disclosure of information between the persons listed in paragraph 13(1) where this is necessary to carry out the work of the Forum, including the preparation of annual reports by the Forum (in accordance with paragraph 12) and any other reports from the Forum (in accordance with paragraph 11). Under this exception to the duty of confidentiality information from the Forum can also be disclosed to enable preparation of the annual reports of the Mental Welfare Commission.
142.Paragraph 13(4) sets out the circumstances in which a member of the Forum must disclose information to the police. Information must be disclosed to the police where, in the opinion of the member acting in good faith, such disclosure is reasonably necessary to prevent the commission of an offence involving the abuse of a child.
143.Paragraph 13(5) enables a member of the Forum to disclose information to the police where an allegation is made by a person who has given testimony that an offence involving the abuse of a child has been committed. Disclosure is made to the police in these circumstances where it is, in the opinion of the member of the Forum acting in good faith, in the public interest to do so.
144.Paragraph 13(6) provides that a court may order the disclosure of information held by the Forum for the purposes of legal proceedings, whether civil or criminal (including for the purposes of the investigation of any offence or suspected offence), if it is satisfied that such disclosure is necessary in the interests of justice.
Schedule 1A – Part 7
145.Paragraph 14 sets out definitions of terms used in schedule 1A.
Section 32 – Interpretation
146.Section 32 provides for the interpretation of various terms used in the Act.
Section 33 – Ancillary provision
147.This section provides the Scottish Ministers with the power to make, by order, such supplementary, incidental, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision as they consider appropriate. It provides that an order under this section may modify this, or any other, enactment.
Section 34 – Commencement
148.This section provides for the commencement of the provisions in the Act. Certain provisions of the Act have been commenced on the day following Royal Assent (i.e. 18 January 2014) to enable the early appointment of the members of the National Confidential Forum and the additional member of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland to allow the National Confidential Forum to begin its work as soon as possible.