Office of Public Sector Information

PART VII Miscellaneous

Financial years

18.—(1) For the purposes of paragraph 22 of Schedule 1 to the Act the following periods are specified —

(a) in relation to the first financial year, the period from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008

(b) in relation to each subsequent financial year, the period from 1 April to 31 March.

Information

19.  Where information required to be provided under paragraph (1) of regulation 4, paragraph (1) of regulation 11 or paragraph (1) of regulation 15 consists of information held by means of a computer or in any other form, the Commissioner may require any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer or other device holding that information to make the information available, or produce the information, in a visible and legible form.

20.  Where a person provides information to the Commissioner pursuant to paragraph (1) of regulation 11 or attends before the Commissioner pursuant to regulation 12, the Commissioner may, if he or she thinks fit, pay to that person —

(a) sums in respect of expenses properly incurred by the person, and

(b) allowances by way of compensation for the loss of their time,

in accordance with such scales, and subject to such conditions, as may be determined by the Commissioner.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision in relation to the functions of the Commissioner for Older People in Wales (“the Commissioner”) established under the Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Act 2006 (“the Act”).

Part I of the Regulations contains interpretation provisions.

Part II concerns the role of the Commissioner in reviewing advocacy, complaints and whistle-blowing arrangements. It prescribes the kind of advice and support arrangements that the Commissioner may review as part of his or her power to review advocacy arrangements (regulation 3). It also confers power on the Commissioner to require information from prescribed persons for certain purposes (regulation 4).

Part III confers power on the Commissioner to provide financial and other assistance to older people in Wales, prescribes the proceedings and procedures in relation to which such assistance may be given (regulation 5) and provides for conditions which may be imposed in connection with the provision of assistance (regulation 6).

Part IV confers functions on the Commissioner concerning the examination of cases of particular persons who are or have been older people in Wales (regulation 7). It specifies the types of case which may be examined (regulation 8) and the circumstances in which an examination may be made (regulation 9). It also makes provision for the conduct of an examination (regulation 10), the provision of information to the Commissioner in connection with an examination (regulation 11), and the attendance of witnesses before the Commissioner (regulation 12).

Part V makes further provision for the arrangements relating to the Commissioner’s relationship with older people in Wales (regulation 13).

Part VI makes provision for specific reports and action to follow them up (regulations 14 and 15), as to reports to the Assembly (regulation 16) and as to publication of reports (regulation 17).

Part VII contains miscellaneous provisions as to the period of the initial and succeeding financial years (regulation 18), the way in which information is produced (regulation 19), and the payment of expenses and allowances in relation to the production of information (regulation 20).