Cheryl Gillan (Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Wales; Chesham & Amersham, Conservative)

I have a brief question about the assistance that the commissioner may give to a person making a complaint or representation. Will the Minister confirm that that would include translation facilities, signing, braille or any other method of facilitating communication that might be necessary?

Nick Ainger (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Office of the Secretary of State for Wales; Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire, Labour)

The clause enables the Assembly to make regulations that empower the commissioner to assist an older person in Wales

“in making a complaint or representation to or in respect of the Assembly”,

or,

“a person providing regulated services in Wales”,

or,

“a person mentioned in schedule 3”,

or,

“a person providing services on behalf of or under arrangements with a person mentioned in schedule 3”.

In order for that service to be delivered, there might well be occasions when the services to which the hon. Lady referred, such as braille, translation and so on, would be required. I am certain that with the Assembly’s general policy on providing assistance to those with certain disabilities, and support for language, there will be no problem with providing those services.

Cheryl Gillan (Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Wales; Chesham & Amersham, Conservative)

I have a question on the provision of those services. If we were coming to the end of the financial year, and the level of interpretation or assistance required by someone under clause 8 would be expensive, would there be any let or hindrance to the commissioner, and would it be necessary to wait until the next financial year?

Nick Ainger (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Office of the Secretary of State for Wales; Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire, Labour)

No, I am certain that the financial provisions under which the commissioner will operate will allow that facility to be made available whatever the state of the finances or the time of the financial year. I am absolutely certain that there will not be such a problem.