24 February 2010

CALL FOR EVIDENCE ON THE CHILDREN’S HEARINGS (SCOTLAND) BILL

The Scottish Parliament’s Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee is seeking views on the general principles of the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Bill.

The main purposes of the Bill are to:

·  create a new office-holder to be known as the National Convener and a new NDPB to be known as Children’s Hearings Scotland (Part 1)

·  continue the office of Principal Reporter and the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (Part 2)

·  provide for general considerations that are applicable to certain decision-making processes under the Bill (Part 3)

·  establish a panel of safeguarders and provide for their functions (Part 4)

·  make provision for child assessment orders and child protection orders, both of which would generally act as triggers for engagement with the children’s hearing system (Part 5)

·  set out the workings of the children’s hearing system including referrals, hearing procedure and practice, determination by sheriff of grounds and the making and enforcement of compulsory supervision orders (Parts 6 to 16)

·  extend the application of certain provisions of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 to court proceedings arising out of children’s hearings (Part 17)

·  make provision for the availability of “children’s legal aid”, which would be legal aid provided in connection with certain children’s hearings or children’s hearings-related court proceedings (Part 19).

Further details on the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Bill

At Stage 1 of the bill process, the Committee is concerned with the general principles of the Bill. The Committee is, therefore, interested to hear the views of individuals and organisations on these general principles.

In addition, it would be helpful to the committee if interested parties would also consider the following questions:

·  How helpful do you find the policy memorandum and financial memorandum accompanying the Bill?

·  Do you have any comments on the consultation the Scottish Government carried out prior to the introduction of the Bill?

Background

The Bill was introduced in the Parliament on 23 February 2010. It is expected that the Bill will be referred to the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee for Stage 1 scrutiny by the Parliamentary Bureau.

Written evidence should be submitted no later than Friday 26 March 2010. Written evidence should be typewritten and concise (as a guide, normally no more than four sides of A4).

It would be helpful if responses could be submitted by email to with the name of your organisation or, if appropriate, your name, as the subject line.

Before submitting written evidence, please make yourself aware of the policy on the handling of written evidence by parliamentary committees. This can be found on the following webpage:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/parliamentaryProcedure/ParliamentPolicy.pdf

For further details, please contact:

Emma Berry, Assistant Clerk, Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee: 0131 348 5222, RNID TypeTalk calls welcome

Email: mailto:

For public information enquiries, please contact:

0131 348 5000; Textphone: 0131 558 7676, RNID Type talk calls welcome

Email:

Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk