[F126APowers of Secretary of State and devolved administrationsU.K.
(1)The Secretary of State, the Welsh Ministers, the Scottish Ministers or the relevant Northern Ireland department may request the [F2Authority] for advice on any matter connected with a profession appearing to the person making the request to be a health care profession; and the [F2Authority] must comply with such a request.
[F3(1A)The Secretary of State may request the Authority for advice on any matter connected with the social work profession, or social care workers, in England; and the Authority must comply with such a request.]
[F4(1B)The Secretary of State may request the Authority for advice on any matter connected with accreditation of registers under section 25G; and the Authority must comply with such a request.
(1C)The Welsh Ministers, the Scottish Ministers or the relevant Northern Ireland department may request the Authority for advice on any matter connected with accreditation of registers under section 25G other than accreditation of registers referred to in subsection (1D); and the Authority must comply with such a request.
(1D)The registers are registers of persons who are or have been—
(a)unregulated social care workers in England,
(b)participating in studies for the purpose of becoming a member of the social work profession in England;
(c)participating in studies for the purpose of becoming an unregulated social care worker in England.
(1E)In subsection (1D), “the social work profession in England” and “unregulated social care worker in England” each have the meaning given in section 25E.]
(2)The Secretary of State, the Welsh Ministers, the Scottish Ministers or the relevant Northern Ireland department may require the [F2Authority] to investigate and report on a particular matter in respect of which the [F5Authority's] functions are exercisable.
(3)In this section[F6—
“health care profession” means a profession (whether or not regulated by or by virtue of any enactment) which is concerned (wholly or partly) with the physical or mental health of individuals; and
“the relevant Northern Ireland department” means the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland Public Safety in Northern Ireland.]]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 26A inserted (1.1.2009) by Health and Social Care Act 2008 (c. 14), ss. 116(1), 170(3)(4); S.I. 2008/3244, art. 2(c)
F2Words in s. 26A(1)(2) substituted (1.12.2012) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 15 para. 62(c); S.I. 2012/2657, art. 2(3)
F3S. 26A(1A) inserted (1.10.2012) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 223(3), 306(4); S.I. 2012/1831, art. 2(2) (with art. 8)
F4Ss. 26A(1B)-(1E) inserted (1.12.2012) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 229(6), 306(4); S.I. 2012/2657, art. 2(3)
F5Word in s. 26A(2) substituted (1.12.2012) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 15 para. 65; S.I. 2012/2657, art. 2(3)
F6Words in s. 26A(3) inserted (1.8.2012) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 223(5), 306(4); S.I. 2012/1319, art. 2(4)