117Duty to inform and consult the publicU.K.
After section 26A of the 2002 Act insert—
“26BDuty to inform and consult the public
(1)For the purpose of ensuring that members of the public are informed about the Council and the exercise by it of its functions, the Council must publish or provide in such manner as it thinks fit information about the Council and the exercise of its functions.
(2)Nothing in subsection (1) authorises or requires the publication or provision of information if the publication or provision of that information—
(a)is prohibited by any enactment, or
(b)would constitute or be punishable as a contempt of court.
(3)In subsection (2) “enactment” has the same meaning as in Part 2 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
(4)The Council must from time to time seek the views of—
(a)members of the public, and
(b)bodies which appear to the Council to represent the interests of patients,
on matters relevant to the exercise by it of its functions.”
Commencement Information
I1S. 117 in force at 1.1.2009 by S.I. 2008/3244, art. 2(c)