Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 and come into force on 23rd November 2015.

Amendment of the Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971

2. —(1)The Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971( 2 ) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation)( 3 )—

(a) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in the definition of “photograph” after “of” insert “at least”; and

(ii) for the definition of “sampler” substitute—

“ “sampler” has the meaning given in paragraph (4) and is subject to the provisions of paragraphs (5) and (6); ” ; and

(b) after paragraph (3), insert—

“ (4) In these Regulations, subject to the provisions of paragraphs (5) and (6), “sampler” means—

(a) a registered medical practitioner;

(b) a person who is under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner and who is—

(i) a registered nurse; or

(ii) a registered biomedical scientist;

(c) a tester;

(d) an officer of the Service, within the meaning given by section 11(3) of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 ( 4 ) ;

(e) a Welsh family proceedings officer, within the meaning given by section 35(4) of the Children Act 2004 ( 5 ) ; or

(f) a person, not being someone within sub-paragraphs (a) or (b), who is appointed by a tester to be a sampler.

(5) A sampler who is within sub-paragraph (d) or (e) in the definition of “sampler” in paragraph (4) may only be involved in the obtaining of samples where—

(a) the court has given a direction of its own initiative in proceedings for a child arrangements order under section 8 of the Children Act 1989 ( 6 ) ;

(b) the sampler has been trained by a tester, or under arrangements made by a tester, in relation to the requirements of these Regulations; and

(c) the sample is to be obtained by way of a mouth swab.

(6) A sampler who is within sub-paragraph (f) in the definition of “sampler” in paragraph (4) may only be involved in the obtaining of samples where—

(a) the sampler has been trained by a tester, or under arrangements made by a tester, in relation to the requirements of these Regulations; and

(b) the sample is to be obtained by way of a mouth swab. ” .

(3) In regulation 3 (direction form) for “take” substitute “obtain”.

(4) In regulation 4 (subject who is under 16 or a protected party to be accompanied to sampler)( 7 ) for “the taking of a sample” substitute “a sample to be obtained”.

(5) In regulation 5 (taking of samples)( 8 )—

(a) in the heading, for “Taking of” substitute “Obtaining”;

(b) in paragraph (1), for “the taking of samples” substitute “samples to be obtained”;

(c) in paragraph (2), for “shall take a sample from him on that occasion” substitute “must on that occasion act in accordance with paragraph (2A), (2B) or (2C), as applicable to that sampler”;

(d) after paragraph (2), insert—

“ (2A) Where the sampler is a person within sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of the definition of “sampler” in regulation 2(4), the sampler must take a sample from the subject.

(2B) Where the sampler is a person within sub-paragraph (d) or (e) of the definition of “sampler” in regulation 2(4), the sampler must supervise the taking of the sample—

(a) by the subject; or

(b) where the subject is under 16 or a protected party, by the person of full age who has accompanied the subject.

(2C) Where the sampler is a person within sub-paragraph (f) of the definition of “sampler” in regulation 2(4), the sampler must—

(a) take the sample; or

(b) supervise the taking of the sample—

(i) by the subject; or

(ii) where the subject is under 16 or a protected party, by the person of full age who has accompanied the subject. ” ;

(e) in paragraph (3)—

(i) for “take” substitute “obtain”;

(ii) in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii), for “taken” substitute “obtained”; and

(iii) in sub-paragraph (iii) for “the taking of” substitute “obtaining”;

(f) in paragraph (4) for “take” substitute “obtain”;

(g) in paragraph (5)—

(i) for “take” substitute “obtain”;

(ii) for “the taking of” substitute “obtaining”; and

(iii) for “not taking” substitute “not obtaining”; and

(h) in paragraph (6) for “for the taking of” substitute “to give”.

(6) In regulation 6 (sampling procedure)( 9 )—

(a) in paragraph (2) for “takes” substitute “obtains”;

(b) in paragraph (3)—

(i) for “taken” substitute “obtained”; and

(ii) for “affixed” substitute “attached”;

(c) in paragraphs (5), (8) and (9) for “taken” each time it occurs substitute “obtained”;

(d) in paragraph (6) for “affix” substitute “attach”; and

(e) in paragraph (7) for “the taking of a sample” substitute “a sample being obtained”.

(7) In regulation 7 (despatch of samples to tester)( 10 )—

(a) in paragraphs (1) and (2) for “taken” substitute “obtained”; and

(b) in paragraph (2) for “take” substitute “obtain”.

(8) In regulation 8 (procedure where sampler nominated is unable to take the samples)( 11 ) in the heading and in paragraph (1) for “take” each time it occurs substitute “obtain”.

(9) In regulation 9 (testing of samples)( 12 ), in paragraph (1) for “taken” substitute “obtained”.

(10) In regulation 12 (fees)( 13 )—

(a) in paragraph (1) for “take” substitute “obtain”;

(b) in paragraph (2) for “taken” substitute “obtained”; and

(c) after paragraph (2) insert—

“ (3) This regulation does not apply where regulation 2(5) applies in a given case. ” .

(11) In Schedule 1, in Form 1 (direction form)( 14 )—

(a) in Part I for “taken” substitute “obtained”;

(b) in Part II—

(i) for “take” both times it occurs substitute “obtain”; and

(ii) for “taken” each time it occurs substitute “obtained”;

(c) in Part III after “Below” insert “, or attached to this form,”;

(d) in Part V—

(i) for “affixed to Part III of” substitute “attached to”; and

(ii) for “the taking of a bodily sample” substitute “a bodily sample being obtained”;

(e) in Part VI—

(i) for “affixed to Part III of” substitute “attached to”; and

(ii) for “the taking of a sample” substitute “a sample being obtained”; and

(f) in Part VII—

(i) for “taken” substitute “obtained”; and

(ii) for “affixed” substitute “attached”.