In the Policy Memorandum for the Bill, the Scottish Government provided the following summary of consultation views:
there was significant support from consultation respondents for a reduction in disclosure products offered under the 1997 Act and the PVG Act;
that the complexity of the disclosure system lies not only in the number of products available, but in a lack of understanding of the underpinning legislation and difficulty in navigating the system;
there was significant support for placing a minimum age of 16 years on obtaining a criminal record check;
respondents strongly supported moving Disclosure Scotland’s services online but it was important to provide a non-digital alternative to avoid precluding those unable or unwilling to use services online;
stakeholders have expressed support for increasing the applicant’s ownership of and giving them greater control over with whom they share that information;
a singular theme from consultation responses is that change is needed in the disclosure of childhood offending behaviour...