HL Deb 18 July 2000 vol 615 cc967-8

(" .—(1) Regulations may confer power on the Commissioner to assist a child to whom this Part applies—

  1. (a) in making a complaint or representation to or in respect of a provider of regulated children's services in Wales; or
  2. (b) in any prescribed proceedings,
and in this subsection "proceedings" includes a procedure of any kind and any prospective proceedings.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), assistance includes—

  1. (a) financial assistance; and
  2. (b) arranging for representation, or the giving of advice or assistance, by any person,
and the regulations may provide for assistance to be given on conditions, including (in the case of financial assistance) conditions requiring repayment in circumstances specified in the regulations.

(3) The Commissioner may, in connection with his functions under this Part, give advice and information to any person.

(4) Regulations may, in connection with the Commissioner's functions under this Part, confer further functions on him.

(5) The regulations may, in particular, include provision about the making of reports on any matter connected with any of his functions.

(6) Apart from identifying any person investigated, a report by the Commissioner shall not—

  1. (a) mention the name of any person, or
  2. (b) include any particulars which, in the opinion of the Commissioner, are likely to identify any person and can be omitted without impairing the effectiveness of the report,
unless, after taking account of the public interest (as well as the interests of any person who made a complaint and other persons), the Commissioner considers it necessary for the report to mention his name or include such particulars.

(7) For the purposes of the law of defamation, the publication of any matter by the Commissioner in a report is absolutely privileged.")

93 Insert the following new clause—

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