Dr John Stockton < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it wrote in message ISTM that some Badges, and some Award tests, should be essentially awarded for competence; and that it is right for these to be assessed under adult responsibility (though perhaps with strong input from PLs). This will include the major safety-related ones. Others can be essentially awards for effort ( make a contribution to an entertainment , for example.  Here the other Scouts (through PLs) should be at least as well able (with guidance if appropriate) to assess than an adult; and the responsibility of the assessment will be good for them. A few parts are perhaps suitable for self-assessment, under guidance; and that too is a responsibility beneficial to bestow. But apparently (as posted previously) PL's and Ventures said in the consultation process that they preferred adults to do it. Please answer after the quotes, and trim them; it is the thrifty norm. Yes, they are naturally, on the whole, idle and loth to take responsibility.  It is part of Scout training to improve them in this manner. Start by doing it yourself, but consulting the PLs first; then move to discussing it with them, and taking the decision; then move to discussing it until they come to a conclusion, and formalising that; them move to making them fully responsible. It takes a while to get a set of PLs to do things properly, but, once it's working right, it can be maintained with rather less effort.  Much the same can be said for a set of Leaders; the newer ones tend towards mental laziness, which means doing everything themselves, whereas the more experienced can get the Scouts to do more.