P ART 2A V ICTIMS ’ RIGHT TO RECEIVE INFORMATION 29ZA Victim’s right to information about plea agreements, etc. (1) The 2014 Act is amended as follows. 35 insert— (2) After section 6 18 Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill Part 2A—Victims’ right to receive information “6A Disclosure of information about plea agreements, etc. (1) This section applies where, in solemn proceedings, a person mentioned in subsection (2) (a “victim”) has indicated to the prosecutor that they wish to be informed where one or more of the following events has, as a result of 5 agreement between the prosecutor and the accused, occurred— (a) a relevant charge libelled in the indictment has been amended and the prosecutor has accepted a guilty plea to that charge, (b) the prosecutor has accepted a plea of not guilty to a relevant charge. (2) The person is— 10 (a) a natural person against whom an offence libelled in the indictment is 1 alleged to have been committed, or (b) in a case where the death of a person mentioned in paragraph (a) was (or appears to have been) caused by the offence or alleged offence, a prescribed relative of the person. 15 (3) The prosecutor must inform the victim of the event mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1)— (a) as soon as reasonably practicable after the event has occurred, or (b) where the prosecutor considers it is in the interests of justice, as soon as reasonably practicable after the proceedings have been substantively 20 concluded. (4) In this section— “prescribed relative” means a person prescribed by the Scottish Ministers for the purposes of section 6(2)(b), “prosecutor” means the Lord Advocate, Crown Counsel or the procurator 25 fiscal (and any person duly authorised to represent or act for them), “relevant charge” means a charge relating to an offence alleged to have been committed against the person mentioned in subsection (2)(a), “substantively concluded”, in relation to criminal proceedings, means whichever is the earlier of— 30 (a) the accused being convicted or, as the case may be, acquitted in relation to all charges, or all charges remaining, in the indictment, or (b) the proceedings otherwise being finally disposed of. (5) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify this section to provide for 35 its application in summary proceedings. (6) Regulations under subsection (5)— (a) may include incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision, (b) may make different provision for different purposes, 40 (c) are subject to the affirmative procedure.”. 19 Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill Part 2A—Victims’ right to receive information 29ZB Victims’ right to be informed of decision not to prosecute or to discontinue proceedings (1) The 2014 Act is amended as follows. (2) Before section 4 (rules: review of decision not to prosecute) insert— 5 “3K Victims’ right to be informed of decision not to prosecute or to discontinue proceedings (1) Where a prosecutor decides— (a) not to prosecute a person for an offence or alleged offence, or (b) to discontinue criminal proceedings against a person for an offence or 10 alleged offence, 1 the prosecutor must, as soon as reasonably practicable, inform any person who is, or appears to be, a victim in relation to that offence or alleged offence of the prosecutor’s decision. (2) In this section, “prosecutor” means the Lord Advocate, Crown Counsel or the 15 procurator fiscal (and any person duly authorised to represent or act for them).”. (3) The italic cross heading immediately preceding section 4 becomes“Decisions not to prosecute or to discontinue proceedings”. 29A Single victim notification system (1) The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 is amended by subsections (2) to (4). 20 (2) In section 16 (victim’s right to receive information concerning release etc. of offender)— (a) in subsection (1)— (i) in the opening words, the words “Subject to subsection (2),” are repealed, (ii) in paragraph (a), the words “for a period of 18 months or more” are repealed, (iii) paragraph (b) is repealed, 25 (b) subsection (4)(a) is repealed. (3) In section 17 (release on licence: right of victim to receive information and make representations), subsection (12)(b), and the word “or” immediately preceding it, are repealed. (4) In section 17ZA (release on licence: provision of information to person supporting 30 victim), subsection (5)(b) is repealed. (5) The 2014 Act is amended by subsections (6) to (9). (6) Section 27A (notification of victims in relation to release etc. of short term prisoners) is repealed. (7) Section 27B (provision of information to person supporting victim) is repealed. 35 (8) In section 29A (exercise of functions where victim is a child), in subsection (1), in the opening words, for “, 8A or 27A” substitute “or 8A”. (9) In section 29B (application of Act where victim’s death caused by offence), in subsection (3), in the opening words, for “, 3G...