s 13 Supervision of training establishments and qualifying assessments .
(1) It shall be the duty of the Council to keep themselves informed of the nature of the instruction given by any approved training establishment to persons training as optometrists or dispensing opticians and of the assessments on the results of which approved qualifications are granted. (2) For the purposes of their duty under subsection (1) above the Council may appoint persons to visit approved training establishments and to attend at the assessments held by the bodies which grant approved qualifications. (3) No visitor shall interfere with the giving of any instruction or the holding of any assessment . (4) It shall be the duty of visitors to report to the Council— (a) as to the sufficiency of the instruction given by the establishments visited by them, or of the assessments attended by them; and (b) as to any other matters relating to such establishments or assessments which may be specified by the Council either generally or in any particular case. (5) Where it appears to the Council (as a result of a report under subsection (4) above or otherwise)— (a) that— (i) the instruction given by any approved training establishment to persons training as optometrists or dispensing opticians ; or (ii) the assessment undertaken by such persons, are not such as to secure the possession by them of adequate knowledge and skill for the practice of their profession; and (b) that for that reason the approval of the establishment or qualification in question should be withdrawn, the Council shall give notice in writing to the establishment or body of their opinion, sending with the notice a copy of any report on which their opinion is based. (5A) Where rules are made under section 23A(2) above, a notice under subsection (5) above or subsection (8) below may be given by means of an electronic communication. (6) On the receipt of the notice the establishment or body may, within such period (not being less than one month) as the Council may have specified in the notice, make to the Council observations on the notice and any report sent with it or objections to the notice and report. (7) As soon as may be after the expiration of the period specified under subsection (6) above the Council shall determine whether or not to withdraw their approval of the establishment or qualification, taking into account any observations or objections duly made under that subsection. (8) The Council shall give notice in writing of any decision under this section to withdraw approval of an establishment or qualification to the establishment or body concerned and the decision shall not take effect until the expiration of one month from the date of the giving of the notice or, if during that time that establishment or body makes representations with respect to the decision to the Privy Council, until the representations are finally dealt with. (9) Where an establishment has been approved as suitable for more than one purpose, the Council, instead of entirely withdrawing approval of the establishment , may withdraw approval in relation to one or some of the purposes only and references in this section to the withdrawal of approval shall be construed accordingly. (10) Where the Council have decided to withdraw approval of an establishment or a qualification (whether entirely or to a limited extent), the Privy Council, on representations being made to them within one month from the giving of notice of the decision may, if they think fit, after considering the representations and after communicating with the Council, order the Council to annul the withdrawal of approval or, in the case of an establishment approved as suitable for more than one purpose, to withdraw approval in relation to one or some of the purposes only. (11) The Council may pay to visitors appointed under this section such fees and such travelling and subsistence allowances, to be paid as part of the expenses of the Council, as the Council may ... determine.