39.Subsection 1 permits the Secretary of State to designate by order an existing individual or body to carry out regulatory functions, including:
authorising persons to provide claims management services,
regulating the conduct of authorised persons (for example by prescribing mandatory rules and codes of practice),
other functions which are conferred on the Regulator by or under Part 2 of the Act (for example additional functions which the Secretary of State specifies in regulations under section 9).
40.Subsection 2 sets out the criteria that must be met before the Secretary of State may designate a person as the Regulator. The Secretary of State must satisfy himself (under subsection 2(a)), that the individual or body is competent to carry out the regulatory functions. In considering whether a person meets the criteria, it is likely that the Secretary of State will take into account a wide range of possible factors including:
an appropriate infrastructure,
suitable internal governance arrangements,
adequate financial and staffing resources,
appropriate regulatory policies.
41.The Secretary of State must also satisfy himself that the proposed Regulator has made arrangements to ensure that there is clear separation between its regulatory functions and any other functions undertaken (such as representative functions). In addition, he must be satisfied that the proposed Regulator will promote the interests of persons using regulated claims management services in order to increase consumer confidence in the sector. This would include:
setting and monitoring standards of competence and conduct for authorised persons (for example by prescribing rules of conduct and a code of practice);
promoting good practice by authorised persons, particularly the provision of information about charges and other matters (such as the availability of free, alternative means of pursuing a claim);
promoting practices likely to facilitate competition between claims management companies (for example by ensuring rules of conduct are not anti-competitive), which should result in more consumer choice and better value for money; and
ensuring that consumers are protected (including putting in place a mechanism for handling complaints where consumers are dissatisfied with the service they have received).
42.Subsection 3 gives the Secretary of State the power by order to create a new body (for example a non-Departmental public body) which he may then designate as the Regulator. This power may only be exercised where the Secretary of State thinks that no existing body is suitable for designation under subsection (1).
43.Subsection 4 places obligations on the Regulator, including the requirement to comply with any directions given to him by the Secretary of State, and to have regard to any guidance or code of practice issued to him. The Regulator must also try to meet any targets set by the Secretary of State (for example targets relating to the handling of complaints). The ability to assess performance against targets would provide the Secretary of State with an indication of the body’s effectiveness as the Regulator. The Secretary of State could also require the disclosure of other information and reports. For example, he might request an annual report on the Regulator’s performance, a copy of any business plan or annual budget estimate or information relating to a specific regulatory activity. The Regulator must not release information to the Secretary of State where disclosure would contravene other legislation such as the Data Protection Act 1998.
44.Subsection 5 requires the Secretary of State to lay before Parliament any code of practice issued to the Regulator.
45.Subsection 6 gives the Secretary of State the power to pay grants to the Regulator (for example to assist with the costs of establishing the new regulatory regime or subsidising operational costs). Grants may be subject to terms and conditions, including terms as to repayment.
46.Subsection 7 makes it clear that the powers and duties of the Regulator may be exercised or undertaken by others acting on his behalf or with his authority.
47.Subsection 8 makes it clear that the Secretary of State may by order revoke an individual or body’s designation as Regulator. The decision to revoke designation would only be taken if the Regulator were persistently failing to carry out his regulatory functions effectively and efficiently, and after careful consideration of the circumstances that led to the failure.
48.Subsection 9 requires the Secretary of State to exercise functions of the Regulator if no other body or individual is designated, or as an interim measure until a new body is established.
49.Subsection 10 gives the Secretary of State the power to transfer by order a function of the Regulator to himself, either for a specified period or indefinitely. For example, if the designated Regulator failed to deal adequately with consumer complaints, the Secretary of State could transfer these functions to himself. This would ensure that the Secretary of State had the ability to protect consumers (without revoking designation) in the event that the Regulator failed to properly carry out particular functions.