155.Subsection (1) of this section provides for the creation of a review oversight committee which is to be responsible for securing the carrying out of reviews and overseeing the review process. Under subsection (2), the committee is to comprise a chair, a deputy chair, and such number of other members as the Scottish Ministers determine. Those other members will be appointed by the Scottish Ministers – from among nominations received from nominating bodies listed in subsection (3) as well as from those identified by Ministers themselves.
156.Subsection (3) sets out the nominating bodies. This list may be modified by the Scottish Ministers by regulations under subsection (5) (subject to the negative procedure) but only after they have consulted with the body to which the regulations would relate (see subsection (6)).
157.The intention is that these nominating bodies might in practice come together to provide for joint nominations (for example, a nomination on behalf of all health boards) but no stipulations are made about how the nominating process has to work, so there will be flexibility for the nominating bodies to nominate individuals as they see fit. There is no obligation on Ministers to accept these nominations (beyond the requirement in subsection (2)(c)(i) which essentially requires there to be at least one person nominated by others), but they would need to consider these nominees for appointment.
158.Where the Scottish Ministers are appointing people of their own accord, they are required under subsection (4) to do this in a way which ensures that the committee includes representatives of voluntary organisations which provide services to individuals in Scotland. For example, this might be charities which have specialist expertise in assisting victims of abusive behaviour, or those which specialise in matters such as substance abuse and which have experience and expertise in working with those who have suffered or been responsible for abusive behaviour in connection with that.
Interpretation Review infrastructure Section 14 – Review oversight committee