1. These Regulations may be cited as the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 (Rights of Audience of the Principal Reporter) Regulations 2012 and come into force on the same day as section 19 (rights of audience) of the Act.
2. In these Regulations—
“the Act” means the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011; and
references to “the Principal Reporter” include references to a person carrying out a function on behalf of the Principal Reporter by virtue of paragraph 10(1) of schedule 3 (delegation of Principal Reporter’s functions) to the Act.
3.—(1) The Principal Reporter is empowered to conduct proceedings before the sheriff which require to be conducted by virtue of the Act.
(2) The Principal Reporter is so empowered whether or not the Principal Reporter is an advocate or a solicitor.
(3) For the purposes of section 19(1)(b) of the Act, the prescribed experience that must be acquired by the Principal Reporter before conducting such proceedings before the sheriff is the experience of having been the Principal Reporter for any period, or periods, amounting in total to a minimum of 1 year.
(4) Paragraph (3) does not apply where the Principal Reporter is an advocate or a solicitor.
4.—(1) The Principal Reporter is empowered to conduct proceedings before the sheriff principal which require to be conducted by virtue of the Act.
(2) The Principal Reporter is so empowered whether or not the Principal Reporter is an advocate or a solicitor.
(3) For the purposes of section 19(1)(b) of the Act, the prescribed experience that must be acquired by the Principal Reporter before conducting such proceedings before the sheriff principal is the experience of having been the Principal Reporter for any period, or periods, amounting in total to a minimum of 2 years.
(4) Paragraph (3) does not apply where the Principal Reporter is an advocate or a solicitor.
5.—(1) For the purposes of section 19(1)(b) of the Act the prescribed training that must be undertaken by the Principal Reporter before conducting such proceedings before the sheriff or the sheriff principal is training in court skills and advocacy.
(2) Paragraph (1) applies whether or not the Principal Reporter is an advocate or a solicitor.
AILEEN CAMPBELL
Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers
St Andrew’s House,
Edinburgh
6th December 2012