(1)For the purposes of this Act, there is to be an officer, to be known as the Public Guardian.
(2)The Public Guardian is to be appointed by the Lord Chancellor.
(3)There is to be paid to the Public Guardian out of money provided by Parliament such salary as the Lord Chancellor may determine.
(4)The Lord Chancellor may, after consulting the Public Guardian—
(a)provide him with such officers and staff, or
(b)enter into such contracts with other persons for the provision (by them or their sub-contractors) of officers, staff or services,
as the Lord Chancellor thinks necessary for the proper discharge of the Public Guardian's functions.
(5)Any functions of the Public Guardian may, to the extent authorised by him, be performed by any of his officers.
(1)The Public Guardian has the following functions—
(a)establishing and maintaining a register of lasting powers of attorney,
(b)establishing and maintaining a register of orders appointing deputies,
(c)supervising deputies appointed by the court,
(d)directing a Court of Protection Visitor to visit—
(i)a donee of a lasting power of attorney,
(ii)a deputy appointed by the court, or
(iii)the person granting the power of attorney or for whom the deputy is appointed (“P”),
and to make a report to the Public Guardian on such matters as he may direct,
(e)receiving security which the court requires a person to give for the discharge of his functions,
(f)receiving reports from donees of lasting powers of attorney and deputies appointed by the court,
(g)reporting to the court on such matters relating to proceedings under this Act as the court requires,
(h)dealing with representations (including complaints) about the way in which a donee of a lasting power of attorney or a deputy appointed by the court is exercising his powers,
(i)publishing, in any manner the Public Guardian thinks appropriate, any information he thinks appropriate about the discharge of his functions.
(2)The functions conferred by subsection (1)(c) and (h) may be discharged in co-operation with any other person who has functions in relation to the care or treatment of P.
(3)The Lord Chancellor may by regulations make provision—
(a)conferring on the Public Guardian other functions in connection with this Act;
(b)in connection with the discharge by the Public Guardian of his functions.
(4)Regulations made under subsection (3)(b) may in particular make provision as to—
(a)the giving of security by deputies appointed by the court and the enforcement and discharge of security so given;
(b)the fees which may be charged by the Public Guardian;
(c)the way in which, and funds from which, such fees are to be paid;
(d)exemptions from and reductions in such fees;
(e)remission of such fees in whole or in part;
(f)the making of reports to the Public Guardian by deputies appointed by the court and others who are directed by the court to carry out any transaction for a person who lacks capacity.
(5)For the purpose of enabling him to carry out his functions, the Public Guardian may, at all reasonable times, examine and take copies of—
(a)any health record,
(b)any record of, or held by, a local authority and compiled in connection with a social services function, and
(c)any record held by a person registered under Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000 (c. 14) [F1or Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008]F1,
so far as the record relates to P.
(6)The Public Guardian may also for that purpose interview P in private.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 58(5)(c) inserted (1.10.2010) by The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Consequential Amendments No.2) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/813), art. 17(5)
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Textual Amendments
(1)The Public Guardian must make an annual report to the Lord Chancellor about the discharge of his functions.
(2)The Lord Chancellor must, within one month of receiving the report, lay a copy of it before Parliament.