Citation and interpretation

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Osteopaths Act 1993 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provision) Order 2000.

(2) In this Order, "the Act" means the Osteopaths Act 1993.

Appointed Day

2. 9th May 2000 is the day appointed for the coming into force of the following provisions of the Act and those provisions shall come into force on that day for all purposes-

(a)section 7(3) (which provides that an osteopath whose registration has been suspended ceases to be a registered osteopath for the purposes of section 32(1)); and

(b)section 32(1) (which provides that a person who describes himself in certain ways is guilty of an offence unless he is a registered osteopath) and section 32(3) so far as not yet in force.

Transitional provision

3.-(1) This article applies where an application for registration under the Act has been made before 9th May 2000 which-

(a)has not been determined by that date; or

(b)has been refused prior to that date, but-

(i)on that date the period for an appeal to the General Council mentioned in section 29(3) of the Act, or for any subsequent appeal from the decision of the General Council or of a court which is unfavourable to the applicant has not expired;

(ii)an appeal has been made within the period for an appeal to the General Council, or for a subsequent appeal from the decision of the General Council or of a court which is unfavourable to the applicant and on that date that appeal has not yet been heard, or has been heard but no decision has been given; or

(iii)permission is required for an appeal to a court and on that date the period during which that permission could be sought has not expired, or by that date permission has been sought but the application for permission has not yet been heard, or if it has been heard, no decision has been given.

(2) Where an application for registration falling within paragraph (1) results in registration, whether by the Registrar in response to the application or following a successful appeal to the General Council or to a court, section 32(1) of the Act shall not apply to the applicant during the period beginning with 9th May 2000 and ending on the date of registration.

(3) Where an application for registration falling within paragraph (1) does not result in registration, whether by the Registrar in response to the application or following an unsuccessful appeal to the General Council or to a court, section 32(1) of the Act shall not apply to the applicant until the date specified in paragraph (4), (5) or (6) below.

(4) Where the applicant has not exhausted his rights of appeal, the date shall be that following-

(a)the last day of the period during which an appeal against the decision, whether that of the Registrar, General Council or a court, or any subsequent appeal decision, could have been made; or

(b)where permission to appeal is required, the last day of the period during which that permission could have been sought.

(5) Where an applicant has exhausted his rights of appeal and accordingly no further appeal against an appeal decision or a decision refusing permission to appeal is possible, the date shall be that following the date of the final decision disallowing the appeal, or, as the case may be, the refusal of permission to appeal.

(6) Where an applicant takes the necessary steps for an appeal to be discontinued or dismissed by a court, the date shall be that following the date of discontinuance or, as the case may be, the dismissal by a court.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into force on 9th May 2000 sections 7(3), 32(1) and 32(3) of the Osteopaths Act 1993 relating to offences commited by persons describing themselves as osteopaths or in similar ways without being registered with the General Osteopathic Council.

The Order includes a transitional provision so as to delay for certain periods the coming into force of the offence in section 32(1) where an application for registration with the General Osteopathic Council has been made prior to 9th May 2000.

Note as to Earlier Commencement Orders

(This note is not part of the Order)

The following provisions of the Act have been brought into force by Commencement Order made before the date of this Order: