PART 5CHILDREN'S HEARINGS: DUTY TO CONSIDER NEED FOR FURTHER REPORTS

77Children's hearings: duty to consider need for further reports

(1)

The 2011 Act is amended as follows.

(2)

In section 91 (grounds accepted: powers of grounds hearing), after subsection (3) insert—

“(3A)

In deciding whether to exercise the power conferred by subsection (2), the grounds hearing must consider whether to require the Principal Reporter to obtain any report, from any person, which the grounds hearing considers relevant to any matter to be determined by the subsequent children's hearing.”.

(3)

In section 119 (children's hearing following deferral or proceedings under Part 10), after subsection (3) insert—

“(3A)

In deciding whether to exercise the power conferred by subsection (2), the children's hearing must consider whether to require the Principal Reporter to obtain any report, from any person, which the children's hearing considers relevant to any matter to be determined by the subsequent children's hearing.”.

(4)

In section 138 (powers of children's hearing on review), after subsection (3) insert—

“(3A)

In deciding whether to exercise the power conferred by subsection (2), the children's hearing must consider whether to require the Principal Reporter to obtain any report, from any person, which the children's hearing considers relevant to any matter to be determined by the subsequent children's hearing.”.