Clause 13
Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill [Lords]
4:30 pm
Nick Ainger (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Office of the Secretary of State for Wales; Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, Labour)
The hon. Lady asked me several questions. At the outset, I should say that subsection (1)(b) enables a commissioner to interview an older person but only on condition that the older person consents to the interview taking place. The Committee should appreciate that it is up to the individual older person to decide whether they want to be interviewed by the commissioner or a member of his staff. The hon. Lady asked who is
“a person authorised by him”
and if they would have been subject to CRB bureau checks.
The hon. Lady also asked about the qualifications of those who will carry out the interviews. It will be an important part of a job specification for members of staff who carry out the role that they are experienced in dealing with older people and able to conduct interviews and elicit information in a sympathetic way, especially as the older person will have made a complaint or expressed concern.