The Act Joint inspections Section 116 - Participation in joint inspections
301.Subsection (1) allows Scottish Ministers to direct persons or bodies not listed in section 115(6) but which have inspection functions to participate in a joint inspection. The direction to participate may specify that participation is only to a limited extent or for a limited purpose. This section would enable Scottish Ministers to include lay people or specific organisations with particular knowledge or expertise, for example, in any aspect of services for children; provided of course any person so included was given inspection functions as an authorised person of an inspection body.
302.Subsection (2) gives Scottish Ministers the power, when directing the participation in a joint inspection of a person or body in terms of subsection (1), to limit the exercise by that person or body of the powers conferred under regulations under section 117 in relation to the conduct of joint inspections. In some cases, it would not be appropriate for such a person or body to have access to, for example, sensitive and personal information.