Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 36)

Part II Promotion of Children’s Welfare by Local Authorities and by Children’s Hearings etc.

Chapter 2 Children’s Hearings

Qualifications, employment and duties of reporters

40 Qualification and employment of reporters

(1) The qualifications of a reporter shall be such as the Secretary of State may prescribe.

(2) A reporter shall not, without the consent of the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, be employed by a local authority.

(3) The Secretary of State may make regulations in relation to the functions of any reporter under this Act and the [1975 c. 21.] Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975.

(4) The Secretary of State and the Lord Advocate may—

(a) by regulations empower a reporter, whether or not he is an advocate or solicitor, to conduct before a sheriff any proceedings which under this Chapter or Chapter 3 of this Part of this Act are heard by the sheriff;

(b) prescribe such requirements as they think fit as to qualifications, training or experience necessary for a reporter to be so empowered.

(5) In this section, “reporter” means—

(a) the Principal Reporter; or

(b) any officer of the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration to whom there is delegated, under section 131(1) of the [1994 c. 39.] Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, any of the functions which the Principal Reporter has under this or any other enactment.