Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

Section 33.

SCHEDULE 3U.K. Children’s Panels

AppointmentS

1SThe Secretary of State shall appoint such number of members of children’s panels for each local authority area as he considers appropriate and from among these members he shall appoint a chairman and a deputy chairman.

2SA member of a children’s panel shall hold office for such period as is specified by the Secretary of State, but may be removed from office by the Secretary of State at any time.

Children’s Panel Advisory CommitteeS

3S[F1Subject to paragraph 5B below,]each local authority shall form a Children’s Panel Advisory Committee consisting of

[F2F3(i). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(ii)F4. . .]

two members nominated by the local authority and three members nominated by the Secretary of State . . . F5

[F63ASThe Secretary of State may, at the request of the local authority provide for an increase in the membership of the Children’s Panel Advisory Committee for the area of the authority by such number, not exceeding 5, of additional members as the authority specify in relation to their request, the additional members to be nominated as follows—

(a)the first, second and fourth additional members, by the Secretary of State;

(b)the third and fifth additional members, by the local authority]

4SThe chairman of the Children’s Panel Advisory Committee shall be appointed by the Secretary of State from among the members he has nominated, and shall be resident in the area of the local authority.

5SIt shall be the duty of the Children’s Panel Advisory Committee—

(a)to submit names of possible panel members to the Secretary of State;

(b)to advise the Secretary of State as required on the suitability of persons referred to him as possible members; and

(c)to advise the Secretary of State on such matters relating to the general administration of panels as he may refer to them.

[F75ASThe Children’s Panel Advisory Committee shall have power—

(a)to appoint sub-committees;

(b)to appoint to any such sub-committee persons who are not members of the Children’s Panel Advisory Committee; and

(c)to refer all or any of the duties set out in paragraph 5 above to any such sub-committee for their advice;

and the provisions of paragraph 8 below shall apply to any persons appointed under sub-paragraph (b) above as they apply to members of the Children’s Panel Advisory Committee.]

[F85B(1)Two or more local authorities may, for the purpose of discharging the function imposed on them by paragraph 3 above, make arrangements to form a Children’s Panel Advisory Committee for their areas (hereafter referred to as a “joint advisory committee”).S

(2)A joint advisory committee shall not be formed in pursuance of arrangements made under sub-paragraph (1) above unless the authorities concerned have obtained the consent in writing of the Secretary of State.

(3)The Secretary of State may give a direction, in any case where a joint advisory committee has not been formed, to two or more local authorities requiring them to form a joint advisory committee; and the local authorities shall comply with any such direction.

(4)The provisions of this Schedule shall apply, subject to any necessary modifications, to a joint advisory committee as they apply to a Children’s Panel Advisory Committee formed under the said paragraph 3.]

Recruitment and Training of Panel MembersS

6SThe Secretary of State may make such arrangements as he considers appropriate to recruit and train members or possible members of children’s panels.

7SEach local authority [F9shall] make such arrangements as they consider appropriate—

(a)to enable the Children’s Panel Advisory Committee to obtain names for submission to the Secretary of State as possible panel members, and

(b)to train panel members or possible panel members.

Expenses of Panel MembersS

[F108SA local authority may pay–

(a)to a member or possible member of the children’s panel,

(b)to a member of the Children’s Panel Advisory Committee,

such allowances as may be determined by the Secretary of State; and he may determine differently in relation to different cases or classes of case.]