Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
At its meeting on 24 September 2019, the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the delegated powers provisions in the Disclosure (Scotland) Bill ("the Bill") at Stage 1.
The Committee submits this report to the lead Committee for the Bill (the Education and Skills Committee) under Rule 9.6.2 of Standing Orders.
The Scottish Government has provided the Parliament with a memorandum on the delegated powers provisions in the Bill.
This Scottish Government Bill was introduced by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, John Swinney MSP, on 12 June 2019.
The Bill's purpose is to reform the system of disclosure of criminal records administered by the Scottish Government through their executive agency Disclosure Scotland. The Policy Memorandum states that the Bill "focuses on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, whilst balancing an individual’s right to move on from offending and get on with their life."
The Bill is comprised of 94 sections and five schedules split over three parts.
There are over 50 delegated powers provisions in the Bill. The full list of these can be found in the Delegated Powers Memorandum.
After considering each of the proposed delegated powers, the Committee determined that it did not need to draw any of the powers to the attention of the lead Committee.
The Committee therefore reports that it is content with the delegated powers provisions contained in the Bill.