Scottish Ministers have delayed plans to reform the children’s hearing system in following concerns over the proposals, which led to some current children’s panel members threatening to resign over the proposals.
The Scottish Government’s plans include the creation of a new national body – the Scottish Children’s Hearings Tribunal. The new Tribunal structure would cover the 32 local panels and be responsible for training and recruitment nationally.
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Fiona Hyslop MSP, is quoted by the BBC News website as saying “We are seeking to strengthen that system and protect it from the increasing threat of legal challenge under the European Convention on Human Rights.”
A revised Children’s Hearings Bill is now expected to be laid before the Scottish Parliament early in 2010.
Posted on Absolvitor: Scots Law Online.
Absolvitor: Scots Law Online 
I can’t really say I am all too disappointed. There does need to be some reform to the Children’s hearing system, but what was being proposed was shameful.
The main thing the Children’s Hearings system needs is some teeth. Something to be able to force social work departments to actually provide services to vulnerable children – that and the additional funding to allow for those services.
The reforms to the system should be tied into a legislative basis for GIRFEC and the ASL legislation.