Courts and Legal Services Act 1990

Valid from 07/12/2004

Section 55.

SCHEDULE 9E+W Probate

Advice from the Advisory CommitteeE+W

1(1)Where the [F1Secretary of State] receives an application from a professional or other body (“the applicant") for approval under this Schedule, he shall refer the application to the [F2Consultative Panel].

(2)It shall be the duty of the [F2Consultative Panel] to consider the application and to give to the [F1Secretary of State] such advice as it considers appropriate.

Advice from the President of the Family DivisionE+W

2(1)When the [F3Secretary of State] has received the [F4Consultative Panel’s] advice he shall refer the application, together with that advice, to the President of the Family Division.

(2)It shall be the duty of the President to consider the application, in the light of that advice, and to give to the [F3Secretary of State] such advice as he considers appropriate.

(3)If the President asks the Committee to give him advice with respect to the application, it shall be the duty of the [F5Consultative Panel] to do so.

Information to be supplied by applicantE+W

3The applicant shall provide the [F6Secretary of State] , the [F7Consultative Panel] and the President with any information that they may reasonably require.

Approval by [F8Secretary of State]E+W

4Having considered the advice given to him by the [F9Consultative Panel] and by the President, the [F10Secretary of State] may by order approve the application if, but only if, he is satisfied that the applicant has in force suitable arrangements—

(a)for training; and

(b)for ensuring that any person to whom the applicant grants the exemption mentioned in section 55(1) will at all times, while exempt, comply with the requirements of section 55(2)(a) to (e).

Refusal to approveE+W

5(1)If the [F11Secretary of State] proposes to refuse the application he shall give the applicant written notice of his proposal.

(2)The notice shall—

(a)give the [F12Secretary of State's] reasons for proposing to refuse the application; and

(b)inform the applicant of the effect of sub-paragraph (3).

(3)Where such a notice is served, it shall be the duty of the [F11Secretary of State] , before determining whether to grant or refuse the application, to consider any representations duly made by the applicant.

(4)For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3), representations are duly made if—

(a)they are made to the [F11Secretary of State] before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice is served; and

(b)unless the [F11Secretary of State] directs in a particular case, they are in writing.

(5)If the [F11Secretary of State] refuses the application he shall give notice to the applicant in writing.

(6)Any notice given under sub-paragraph (5) must give the [F12Secretary of State's] reasons for refusing the application.

Revocation of approvalE+W

6(1)The revocation of any approval given under this Schedule shall be by order (“a revoking order”) made by the [F13Secretary of State].

(2)A revoking order may only be made if—

(a)the approved body has made a written request to the [F13Secretary of State] asking for it to be made;

(b)the approved body has agreed in writing to its being made; or

(c)the [F13Secretary of State] is satisfied that the circumstances at the time when he is considering the question are such that, had that body then been applying to become an approved body, its application would have failed.

(3)A revoking order may make such transitional and incidental provision as the [F13Secretary of State] considers necessary or expedient.

(4)Where a revoking order is made—

(a)the exemption granted to any person by the body with respect to whom the order is made shall cease to have effect, subject to any transitional provision made by the order; and

(b)the [F13Secretary of State] shall—

(i)give the body with respect to whom the order is made written notice of the making of the order;

(ii)take such steps as are reasonably practicable to bring the making of the order to the attention of members of that body; and

(iii)publish notice of the making of the order in such manner as he considers appropriate for bringing it to the attention of persons (other than those members) who, in his opinion, are likely to be affected by the order.

Role of the Advisory CommitteeE+W

7(1)Where the [F14Secretary of State] is considering whether to make a revoking order by virtue of paragraph 6(2)(c)—

(a)he shall seek the advice of the [F15Consultative Panel]; and

(b)the [F15Consultative Panel] shall carry out such investigations with respect to the approved body as it considers appropriate.

(2)Where—

(a)the [F14Secretary of State] has not sought the advice of the [F15Consultative Panel] under sub-paragraph (1); but

(b)the [F15Consultative Panel] has reason to believe that there may be grounds for recommending that a revoking order be made under paragraph 6(2)(c) with respect to an approved body,

it may carry out such investigations with respect to the approved body as it considers appropriate.

(3)If, on concluding any investigation carried out under sub-paragraph (1) or (2), the [F15Consultative Panel] considers that there are grounds for recommending the making of a revoking order with respect to the approved body concerned, it shall advise the [F14Secretary of State] accordingly.

Duty to comply with requests for informationE+W

8(1)Where the [F16Consultative Panel] is carrying out an investigation under paragraph 7 it may require the approved body concerned to provide it with such information, including copies of such documents, as it may reasonably require for the purposes of the investigation.

(2)No person shall be required under sub-paragraph (1) to provide any information, or produce any copy of a document, which he could not be compelled to provide or produce in civil proceedings before a court.

(3)Where an approved body fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with a request made to it by the [F17Consultative Panel] under sub-paragraph (1), paragraph 6(2)(c) shall be taken to have been satisfied in relation to that body.

Notice to approved bodyE+W

9(1)If the [F18Consultative Panel] advises the [F19Secretary of State] that there are grounds for recommending the making of a revoking order with respect to an approved body, the [F19Secretary of State] shall send written notice of that advice, and of the effect of such an order, to that body.

(2)Any such notice shall invite the approved body to make representations in writing to the [F19Secretary of State] or such person as he may appoint for the purpose.

(3)Any such representations must be made before the end of the period of three months beginning with the date on which the notice was given.

Notice to members of approved bodyE+W

10(1)Where—

(a)the [F20Secretary of State] has given notice to an approved body under paragraph 9(1); or

(b)is proposing to make a revoking order with respect to an approved body, by virtue of paragraph 6(2)(a) or (b),

he shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to bring the matter to the attention of the members of the approved body and of any other persons who, in his opinion, are likely to be affected by any revoking order made with respect to that body.

(2)Any such steps shall include inviting those members and other persons to make representations to the [F20Secretary of State] or (as the case may be) to the person appointed by him for the purpose.

(3)Any such representations—

(a)shall, except in such circumstances as the [F20Secretary of State] may specify, be in writing; and

(b)must be made before the end of the period of three months beginning with such date as may be fixed by the [F20Secretary of State] .

Consideration by [F21Secretary of State] and PresidentE+W

11(1)It shall be the duty of the [F22Secretary of State] to consider—

(a)any advice given to him by the [F23Consultative Panel] under paragraph 7; and

(b)any representations duly made under paragraph 9 or 10.

(2)Having done so, the [F22Secretary of State] shall—

(a)send to the President a copy of any such advice and of any such representations (including a note of any oral representations); and

(b)inform the President of his view as to whether or not a revoking order with respect to the approved body concerned should be made.

(3)It shall be the duty of the President—

(a)to consider the information sent to him by the [F22Secretary of State] ;

(b)to inform the [F22Secretary of State] of his own decision in the matter; and

(c)to give his reasons, in writing, for his decision.

(4)No revoking order shall be made with respect to the approved body unless the [F22Secretary of State] and the President agree that it should be made.