Disclosure Scotland fees: Consultation on Discounting, Waivers and Accredited Bodies

The Scottish Government and Disclosure Scotland are consulting on potential changes to fees for disclosure applications and Protection of Vulnerable Group Scheme membership. There have not been any changes to fees since 2011. However, the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 introduced new types of disclosure (Level 1 and Level 2 disclosures) so there need to be new regulations on fees.

The consultation closes 28 May 2024, and you can read the consultation paper and submit your own response here.

Proposal to Increase Fees for Parent Group Volunteers and Parent Volunteers in Schools

This consultation will be of interest to parent groups who currently require PVGs for running their activity clubs and groups. It may also impact the use of parent volunteers in schools because of the proposed increased costs. See more information below. Connect will be making a submission to the consultation to call for the waiver for parent group PVG charges to continue and for the fee to be frozen for parent volunteers in schools and early learning and childcare settings such as playgroups, nurseries etc.

Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme

The new Act means the PVG scheme is now moving to a new model where members will have to renew their membership after five years, which will begin in the 2025/26 financial year. Currently PVG members are on the scheme until they inform Disclosure Scotland they no longer require to be and ask to be removed.

Fee waivers and discounts

As Disclosure Scotland is proposing to increase fees, it is looking at ways to help those negatively affected by the fee increase.  The proposal is for a fee discount of 50% for people who receive certain benefits such as:

• Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• Universal credit
• Personal Independence Payment
• Adult disability payment.

This discount could also be offered to care experienced young people, and the consultation asks which definition of care experienced young people would be best.

Why does this consultation matter to parent groups?

Currently, people who are doing regulated work as an unpaid volunteer for a Qualifying Voluntary Organisation (QVO) do not have to pay for PVG membership. QVOs are organisations that are not for profit, nor are they a further education institution, a school, a public or local authority, or under the management of a public or local authority. Parent Councils, PTAs and other similar groups are run by parents, not the school, so they are classed as QVOs.

To cover the cost of the proposed discounts to low income and care experienced individuals, Disclosure Scotland is considering moving volunteers to a fee discount of 60% instead of full waiver. However, retaining the waiver does remain an option. Parent groups who do require volunteers to join the PVG scheme may wish to call for the waiver of fees to remain.