Explanatory Notes

Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020

2020 asp 13

14 July 2020

Provision by Provision Commentary

Part 1: Disclosure of criminal history and other information

Accredited bodies

Section 50: Removal of registration on other grounds

101.This section sets out the grounds on which Ministers may remove an accredited body from the register other than the suitability of individuals to have access to disclosure information. Subsection (2)(a) to (c) specifies the grounds on which removal of registration may occur, including that the accredited body is no longer likely to act in relation to the type of disclosure request they are registered for, the accredited body has breached any condition imposed on them, or failure to comply with the code of practice published by Ministers under section 55. Subsection (3) provides that, for an accredited body that is a corporate or unincorporated body or a statutory office-holder, a further ground for removal is that the accredited body does not have a lead signatory. Where an accredited body is registered in relation to both making applications for Level 1 disclosures and countersigning applications for Level 2 disclosures, Ministers may remove the accredited body in relation to either or both (see subsection (4)).

102.Before removing an accredited body from the register, Ministers must notify the accredited body that they are considering whether to remove them, provide the reasons for considering that removal and give the accredited body the opportunity to make representations (see subsection (5)).