UK Statutory Instrument 2013 United Kingdom

The General Optical Council (Fitness to Practise) Rules Order of Council 2013

This Order approves Rules made by the General Optical Council (“the Council”) which make provision for the procedures to be followed in the Council’s fitness to practise proceedings. These Rules replace the General Optical Council (Fitness to Practise) Rules 2005 (“the 2005 Rules”).
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At a glance

Enforced by

GOC

What's here

32 compliance obligations

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Any Person 2

Plus 30 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

s.005

Notification and evidence gathering

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GOC registrar must notify registrant of fitness to practise allegation and gather evidence Statutory regulator
s.008

Assessment notification

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GOC must notify registrants of assessment appointments Statutory regulator
s.010

Assessment report

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Assessors must prepare and submit assessment reports to GOC registrar Statutory regulator
s.014

Warnings

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GOC must consider issuing a warning after deciding not to refer a case Statutory regulator
s.015

Review of decision not to refer

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Case examiners must review decisions not to refer allegations within 5 years Statutory regulator
s.016

Termination of referral

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GOC must notify registrant and others if case examiners terminate a referral Statutory regulator
s.020

Conduct of interim order hearings

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Fitness to Practise Committee must follow procedural rules for interim order hearings Tribunal / Court
s.025

Substantive Hearings in public

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Fitness to Practise Committee must hold substantive hearings in public, with exceptions Statutory regulator
s.028

Notification

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GOC must serve fitness-to-practise notification on registrant Statutory regulator
s.034

Date of substantive hearing

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Hearings Manager must serve notice of substantive hearing date on parties Statutory regulator
s.035

Adjournment

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Fitness to Practise Committee must consider adjournment applications promptly Tribunal / Court
s.041

Vulnerable witnesses

  • Registrant must not cross-examine alleged victim in sexual cases without consent; appoint legal representative if needed Any Person
s.042

Witnesses

  • Witnesses must take oath/affirm and not attend hearing before giving evidence Any Person
s.043

Legal advisers

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Legal adviser must attend hearings and advise the Fitness to Practise Committee on law and procedure Statutory regulator
s.044

Clinical advisers

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Clinical adviser must attend hearings and advise on health evidence Statutory regulator
s.045

Specialist advisers

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Specialist adviser must attend hearing and disclose advice transparently Tribunal / Court
s.050

Written decision

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Fitness to Practise Committee must give written decisions with reasons Tribunal / Court
s.052

Costs and expenses

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Fitness to Practise Committee may order parties to pay hearing costs Statutory regulator
s.055

Referral for a review

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Registrar must refer cases for review of certain orders Statutory regulator
s.056

Notice of review

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Registrar must serve notice of review hearing with relevant documents Statutory regulator
s.062

Transitional provisions

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GOC must arrange disposal of pending fitness to practise cases Statutory regulator
Browse 35 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.002

Notices and notifications

s.002

Virtual meetings and hearings

s.037

Postponement

s.paragraph/1

This Order may be cited as the General Optical Council...

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Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

GOC

General Optical Council

Statutory regulator for optometrists, dispensing opticians, student opticians, and optical businesses in the UK. Registers individuals and businesses, sets standards, and investigates …

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