Professional education
12 Visitors.
1
The Education Committee may appoint persons to visit any place at which or institution by which or under whose direction—
a
any relevant course of study is, or is proposed to be, given;
b
any examination is, or is proposed to be, held in connection with any such course;
c
any test of competence is, or is proposed to be, conducted in connection with any such course or for any other purpose connected with this Act.
2
In subsection (1) “relevant course of study” means any course of study which forms, or is intended to form, part of—
a
the complete course of study required in order to obtain a recognised qualification or a qualification for which recognition is being sought; or
b
any training which a registered osteopath may be required to undergo after registration.
3
No person appointed as a visitor may exercise his functions under this section in relation to—
a
any place at which he regularly gives instruction in any subject; or
b
any institution with which he has a significant connection.
4
A person shall not be prevented from being appointed as a visitor merely because he is a member of—
a
the General Council; or
b
any of its committees.
5
Where a visitor visits any place or institution, in the exercise of his functions under this section, he shall report to the Education Committee—
a
on the nature and quality of the instruction given, or to be given, and the facilities provided or to be provided, at that place or by that institution; and
b
on such other matters (if any) as he was required to report on by the Committee.
6
Requirements of the kind mentioned in subsection (5)(b) may be imposed by the Education Committee—
a
generally in relation to all visits;
b
generally in relation to all visits made to a specified kind of place or institution; or
c
specifically in relation to a particular visit.
7
Where a visitor reports to the Education Committee under subsection (5), the Committee shall on receipt of the report—
a
send a copy of it to the institution concerned; and
b
notify that institution of the period within which it may make observations on, or raise objections to, the report.
8
The period specified by the Committee in a notice given under subsection (7)(b) shall not be less than one month beginning with the date on which a copy of the report is sent to the institution under subsection (7)(a).
9
The Education Committee shall not take any steps in the light of any report made under subsection (5) before the end of the specified period.
10
The General Council may—
a
pay fees, allowances and expenses to persons appointed as visitors; or
b
treat any such person, for the purposes of paragraph 15(2)(c) to (e) of the Schedule, as a member of its staff.
11
In the case of a visitor who is also such a member as is mentioned in subsection (4), any payment made to him in his capacity as a visitor shall be in addition to any to which he is entitled as such a member.