Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 Explanatory Notes

1. Introduction

2. Overview

3. Provision by Provision Commentary

   1. Part 1: Disclosure of criminal history and other information

      1. Level 1 disclosures

         1. Section 1: Level 1 disclosure

         2. Section 2: Provision of Level 1 disclosures

         3. Section 3: Applications by accredited bodies on behalf of individuals

         4. Section 4: Provision of Level 1 disclosure to third parties

      2. Level 1 disclosures: review applications

         1. Section 5: Level 1 disclosure: application for review

         2. Section 6: Review of accuracy of information by the Scottish Ministers

         3. Section 7: Provision of new Level 1 disclosure on conclusion of review proceedings

      3. Level 2 disclosures

         1. Section 8: Level 2 disclosure

         2. Section 9: Non-disclosable convictions

         3. Section 10: Non-disclosable children’s hearing outcomes

         4. Section 11: Provision of Level 2 disclosures

         5. Section 12: Level 2 disclosure applications: countersigning and purposes

         6. Section 13: Childhood information

         7. Section 14: Provision of relevant Scottish police information

         8. Section 15: Provision of relevant overseas police information

         9. Section 16: Further information for certain purposes: non-PVG scheme members

         10. Section 17: Further information for certain purposes: PVG scheme members

         11. Section 18: Provision of Level 2 disclosure to accredited bodies

         12. Section 19: Crown employment

      4. Level 2 disclosures: review applications

         1. Section 20: Level 2 disclosure: application for review

         2. Section 21: Review of accuracy of information by the Scottish Ministers

         3. Section 22: Review of childhood information by the independent reviewer

         4. Section 23: Review of relevant Scottish police information by the police

         5. Section 24: Review of relevant Scottish police information by the independent reviewer

         6. Section 25: Review of inclusion of removable convictions by the Scottish Ministers

         7. Section 26: Review of inclusion of removable convictions by the independent reviewer

         8. Section 27: Combination of reviews by the independent reviewer

         9. Section 28: Independent reviewer: information and representations

         10. Section 29: Notification of independent reviewer’s decision

         11. Section 30: Appeal against independent reviewer’s decision

         12. Section 31: Provision of new Level 2 disclosure on conclusion of review proceedings

         13. Section 32: Disapplication of provisions of section 4 of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

      5. Level 2 disclosures: considering relevance and whether to include information

         1. Section 33: Level 2 disclosure: considering relevance and whether to include certain information

      6. Common provisions relating to Level 1 and Level 2 disclosures

         1. Section 34: Form and manner of provision of disclosures

         2. Section 35: Reclassification of applications

         3. Section 36: Regulations about procedure for disclosure requests

         4. Section 37: Regulations about review procedure

         5. Section 38: Power to modify definitions of Level 1 disclosure and Level 2 disclosure

         6. Section 39: Childhood information: power to modify other enactments

         7. Section 40: Presumption as to age in relation to convictions

      7. Offences relating to Level 1 and Level 2 disclosures

         1. Section 41: Falsification of a Level 1 or Level 2 disclosure

         2. Section 42: Unlawful disclosure of a Level 2 disclosure

         3. Section 43: Lawful disclosures of Level 2 disclosures

         4. Section 44: Unlawful request for and use of a Level 2 disclosure

         5. Section 45: Offences under sections 42 and 44: supplementary provision

      8. Accredited bodies

         1. Section 46: Register of accredited bodies

         2. Section 47: Registration in the register of accredited bodies

         3. Section 48: Protection of information: removal of registration

         4. Section 49: Suitable persons to have access to disclosure information

         5. Section 50: Removal of registration on other grounds

         6. Section 51: Lead signatories and countersignatories

         7. Section 52: Lead signatories and countersignatories: acceptance or refusal of nomination and removal from the register

         8. Section 53: Notification and review of decisions: removal from register or refusal of registration or nomination

         9. Section 54: Regulations about registration

         10. Section 55: Code of practice

         11. Section 56: Sharing of Level 2 disclosure information by accredited bodies

      9. Evidence of identity

         1. Section 57: Evidence of identity

         2. Section 58: Power to use personal data to check identity

         3. Section 59: Power to use fingerprints to check identity

      10. General

          1. Section 60: Form and manner of applications and notices

          2. Section 61: Fees

          3. Section 62: Fees for provision of information by the chief constable

          4. Section 63: Guidance for chief constable

          5. Section 64: Sharing of information with the chief constable

          6. Section 65: Sources of information

          7. Section 66: Delegation of functions of Scottish Ministers

          8. Section 67: Saving: disclosure of information and records

          9. Section 68: Definition of consideration of suitability

          10. Section 69: Interpretation of Part 1

   2. Part 2: Protection of vulnerable groups

      1. Scheme membership

         1. Section 70: Participation in Scheme

         2. Section 71: Duration of Scheme membership

         3. Section 72: Failure to apply for renewal of Scheme membership

         4. Section 73: Compulsory Scheme membership

      2. Regulated roles

         1. Section 74: Regulated roles

         2. Section 75: Meaning of “protected adult”

      3. Scheme members under consideration for listing

         1. Section 76: Conditions imposed on scheme members under consideration for listing

         2. Section 77: Notice of consideration for listing

         3. Section 78: Withdrawal from Scheme when under consideration for listing

      4. Notice of barred status

         1. Section 79: Notice of barred status

      5. Listing

         1. Section 80: Reference by chief constable

         2. Section 81: Removal of references by court

         3. Section 82: Reference by councils or integration joint boards

         4. Section 83: Application for removal from list

         5. Section 84: Ministers’ powers to remove from list

         6. Section 85: Appeals and removals: information power

      6. Confirmation of PVG Scheme membership

         1. Section 86: Confirmation of scheme membership under the PVG Act

      7. Miscellaneous

         1. Section 87: Retention of scheme records after removal

         2. Section 88: Offences outside Scotland

         3. Section 89: Guidance for chief constable

         4. Section 90: Meaning of “conviction”

   3. Part 3: General

      1. Section 91: Regulations

      2. Section 92: Ancillary provision

      3. Section 93: Consequential and minor modifications

      4. Section 94: Individual culpability where organisation commits offence

      5. Section 95: Meaning of “PVG Act”

      6. Section 96: Crown application

      7. Section 97: Commencement

      8. Section 98: Short title

   4. Schedule 1: List A offences

   5. Schedule 2: List B offences

   6. Schedule 3: Schedule to be substituted for schedule 2 of the PVG Act

      1. Part 1: Preliminary

      2. Part 2: Activities

      3. Part 3: General

   7. Schedule 4: Schedule to be substituted for schedule 3 of the PVG Act

      1. Part 1: Preliminary

      2. Part 2: Activities

      3. Part 3: General

   8. Schedule 5: Consequential and minor modifications

4. Parliamentary History