Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003

Ancillary powers E+W

98 Right of entry E+W

(1) A person authorised to do so by the Assembly may, if the Assembly considers it necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Chapter, at any reasonable time enter and inspect—

(a) any premises owned or controlled by a local authority in Wales;

(b) any premises falling within subsection (2), other than premises used wholly or mainly as a private dwelling.

(2) The premises referred to in subsection (1)(b) are premises—

(a) which are used, or proposed to be used, by any person in connection with the provision of a Welsh local authority social service; or

(b) which the Assembly reasonably believes to be so used, or proposed to be so used.

(3) A person who proposes to exercise any power of entry or inspection conferred by this section must if so required produce some duly authenticated document showing his authority to exercise the power.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 98 in force at 1.4.2004 by S.I. 2004/873, art. 2(c)

99 Right of entry: supplementary E+W

(1) A person authorised by virtue of section 98 to enter and inspect premises may, if he considers it necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Chapter—

(a) inspect, take copies of and remove from the premises any documents or records (including personal records) relating to the discharge by the local authority of its social services functions;

(b) inspect any other item and remove it from the premises;

(c) interview in private—

(i) any person working at the premises; or

(ii) any person accommodated or cared for there who consents to be interviewed; and

(d) make any other examination into the state and management of the premises and treatment of persons accommodated or cared for there.

(2) The power in subsection (1)(a) includes—

(a) power to require any person holding or accountable for documents or records kept on the premises to produce them; and

(b) in relation to records which are kept by means of a computer, power to require the records to be produced in a form in which they are legible and can be taken away.

(3) A person authorised by virtue of subsection (1)(a) to inspect any records is entitled to have access to, and to check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been in use in connection with the records in question.

(4) A person authorised by virtue of section 98 to enter and inspect premises may—

(a) require any person to afford him such facilities and assistance with respect to matters within the person’s control as are necessary to enable him to exercise his powers under section 98 or this section;

(b) take such measurements and photographs and make such recordings as he considers necessary to enable him to exercise those powers.

(5) Any person who without reasonable excuse—

(a) obstructs the exercise of any power conferred by section 98 or this section, or

(b) fails to comply with any requirement of section 98 or this section,

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

Commencement Information

I2 S. 99 in force at 1.4.2004 by S.I. 2004/873, art. 2(c)

100 Power to require information E+W

(1) The Assembly may at any time require any person specified in subsection (2) to provide it with any information, documents, records (including personal records) or other items—

(a) which relates or relate to the discharge by a local authority in Wales of its social services functions; and

(b) which the Assembly considers it necessary or expedient to have for the purpose of any of its functions under this Chapter.

(2) The persons referred to in subsection (1) are—

(a) the local authority;

(b) a person providing a Welsh local authority social service for the authority; or

(c) any NHS body.

(3) The power in subsection (1) to require the provision of information includes, in relation to records kept by means of a computer, power to require the provision of the records in legible form.

(4) Any person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with any requirement imposed by virtue of this section is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

Commencement Information

I3 S. 100 in force at 1.4.2004 by S.I. 2004/873, art. 2(c)

101 Power to require explanation E+W

(1) The Assembly may by regulations make provision requiring prescribed persons to provide to the Assembly, or to persons authorised by it, an explanation of—

(a) any documents, records or items inspected, copied or produced under sections 98 to 100,

(b) any information provided under those sections, or

(c) any matters which are the subject of the exercise of any functions of the Assembly under this Chapter,

in cases where the Assembly considers the explanation necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Chapter.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may require explanations to be provided at such times and places as may be specified by the Assembly.

(3) Any person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with any requirement imposed by virtue of this section is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

Commencement Information

I4 S. 101 partly in force; s. 101 in force at Royal Assent for certain purposes, see s. 199(1)(4)

I5 S. 101 in force at 1.4.2004 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2004/873, art. 2(c)