Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) (No.2) Order 2011 and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

(2) This Order extends to England and Wales only.

Amendment of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975

2.—(1) The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975(2) is amended as follows.

(2) In article 3(3), at the end insert—

“(o)any question asked by or on behalf of any body which is a licensing authority within the meaning of section 73(1) of the Legal Services Act 2007(4) (licensing authorities and relevant licensing authorities) where—

(i)it is asked in order to assess whether, for the purposes of Schedule 13 to that Act (ownership of licensed bodies), the approval requirements(5) are met in relation to a person’s holding of a restricted interest in a licensed body(6); and

(ii)the person to whom the question relates is informed at the time that the question is asked that, by virtue of this Order, spent convictions are to be disclosed.”.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

The Legal Services Act 2007 (“the 2007 Act”) contains a scheme requiring the authorisation of those who provide certain legal services (“reserved legal activities”). Part 5 of the 2007 Act (alternative business structures) provides that bodies which have been designated as licensing authorities under Schedule 10 to that Act may issue licences to firms which are wholly or partly owned or controlled by those who are not so authorised, permitting those bodies to offer legal services, or a mixture of legal services and other services, to the public. Schedule 13 to that Act requires that, before granting such a licence, the licensing authority must approve the holding by a non-authorised person of certain interests in the body (known as a restricted interest).

This Order amends the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 so as to permit a licensing authority to ask about spent convictions and cautions when deciding whether to give such approval.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the private or voluntary sectors.