Protecting Children - Securing their Safety

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Conclusion

1. This consultation paper sets out the Scottish Executive's intention to legislate to establish an Index of adults deemed unsuitable to work with children. It indicates the intended coverage of the Index, how it will operate in practice, the measures to be put in place to ensure that decisions on whether to place someone's name on the Index are taken in a fair and reasonable manner with an opportunity for appeal, and how this system will interact with similar measures elsewhere in the United Kingdom. To ensure that the Index Is as effective as possible we would welcome views on the proposals set out in this paper. This will help us to shape the legislation to be presented to the Scottish Parliament on this issue. There will be a further opportunity for involvement when the Bill is presented to the Scottish Parliament and begins its way through the legislative process.

2. To help us analyse all the responses fully in the time available it would be helpful if respondents kept responses as succinct as possible and indicated clearly to which proposal they are responding. Respondents should feel under no obligation to cover all the proposals set out in this paper: many may wish to focus on a few points of particular relevance to them.

3. Responses to this consultation paper are invited by 27 October 2000. Copies of responses will be made available for public consultation in the Scottish Executive library at Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh EH11 3XD (telephone 0131 244 4552). In addition, copies will be lodged with the Scottish Parliamentary Information Centre for the use of' Members of the Scottish Parliament and their staff We will assume that responses to this paper may be made available in these ways unless respondents request confidentiality After we have assessed the comments received we shall issue a policy position paper, which will be made widely available.

4 Responses should be sent to
Peter WilIman,
Scottish Executive Education Department,
Children & Young People's Group, Children & Families Division,
Area 2-B(N),
Victoria Quay,
Edinburgh, EH6 6()Q,
telephone: 0131 244 0977,
fax: 0131 244 0978,
e-mail: peter.willman@scotland.gov.uk

5 A limited supply of further copies of this document is available from
Aaron Dennington,
Scottish Executive Education Department,
Children & Young People's Group, Children & Families Division,
Area 2-B(N),
Victoria Quay,
Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ,
telephone: 0131 244 3735,
fax: 0131 244 0978
e-mail aaron.dennington@scotland.gov.uk

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