Access to Justice Act 1999

Section 51.

SCHEDULE 8 Legal Services Complaints Commissioner

Provision for discharge of functions

1 (1) The Lord Chancellor may give general directions concerning the discharge of the functions of the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner.

(2) Any such directions shall be published by the Lord Chancellor in such manner as appears to him to be appropriate.

(3) Subject to any such direction and to the provisions of this Act, the Commissioner may make such provision as he considers appropriate for the discharge of his functions.

Delegation of functions

2 (1) The Commissioner may delegate any of his functions to such members of his staff as he thinks fit.

(2) All reports prepared by or on behalf of the Commissioner must be signed by him.

Remuneration

3 (1) The Lord Chancellor shall pay to, or in respect of, the Commissioner such amounts—

(a) by way of remuneration, pensions, allowances or gratuities, or

(b) by way of provision for any such benefits,

as he may determine.

(2) If—

(a) the Commissioner ceases to hold office, and

(b) it appears to the Lord Chancellor that there are special circumstances which make it right that he should receive compensation,

the Lord Chancellor may pay to him such sum as the Lord Chancellor may determine.

Staff

4 (1) The Commissioner may appoint such staff as he thinks necessary for the discharge of his functions.

(2) Appointments shall be made by the Commissioner on such terms and conditions (including terms as to pensions, allowances and gratuities) as he may, with the approval of the Lord Chancellor, determine.

(3) The reference in sub-paragraph (2) to pensions, allowances or gratuities includes a reference to pensions, allowances or gratuities by way of compensation to or in respect of any of the Commissioner’s staff who suffer loss of employment or loss or diminution of emoluments.

Annual and other reports

5 (1) The Commissioner shall make an annual report to the Lord Chancellor on the discharge of his functions during the year to which the report relates.

(2) The Commissioner may, in addition, report to the Lord Chancellor at any time on any matter relating to the discharge of the Commissioner’s functions.

(3) The Commissioner shall provide the Lord Chancellor with such information relating to the discharge of his functions as the Lord Chancellor may see fit to require.

(4) The Lord Chancellor shall lay before each House of Parliament a copy of any annual report made to him under sub-paragraph (1).

Accounts and audit

6 (1) The Commissioner shall keep accounts with respect to his receipts and expenditure and shall prepare a statement of accounts with respect to each financial year.

(2) The accounts shall be kept, and the statement of accounts prepared, in such form as the Lord Chancellor may, with the approval of the Treasury, direct.

(3) The accounts shall be audited by persons appointed by the Lord Chancellor in respect of each financial year.

(4) The auditors shall send to the Lord Chancellor a copy of the statement of accounts and of their report.

(5) The Lord Chancellor shall lay before each House of Parliament a copy of every statement of accounts and auditors' report sent to him under this paragraph.

Financial provisions

7 (1) The Lord Chancellor may require any professional body in relation to which a direction under section 52 of this Act has been given (and not revoked) to make payments of such amounts as the Lord Chancellor considers appropriate to the Commissioner towards meeting the expenditure incurred (or to be incurred) by him in the discharge of his functions.

(2) To the extent that that expenditure is not met by payments under sub-paragraph (1), it shall be met by the Lord Chancellor out of money provided by Parliament.

(3) The Commissioner may, with the approval of the Lord Chancellor, pay fees or allowances to any person who, in the Commissioner’s opinion, is qualified to assist him in the discharge of his functions and who so assists him.

Parliamentary disqualification

8 In Part III of Schedule 1 to—

(a) the [1975 c. 24.] House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975, and

(b) the [1975 c. 25.] Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975,

(disqualifying offices), insert (at the appropriate place in alphabetical order)—

• “The Legal Services Complaints Commissioner.”

Parliamentary Commissioner

9 In Schedule 2 to the [1967 c. 13.] Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (which lists the bodies subject to the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner), insert (at the appropriate place in alphabetical order)—

• “The Legal Services Complaints Commissioner.”

Acting Commissioner

10 (1) The Lord Chancellor may appoint a person to exercise the functions of the Commissioner where—

(a) the Commissioner’s office becomes vacant, or

(b) the Commissioner is incapable of exercising his functions or considers that it would be inappropriate for him to exercise any of his functions in connection with a particular matter (because of a possible conflict of interests or for any other reason).

(2) A person so appointed shall have the powers of the Commissioner but shall act only in accordance with the terms on which he is appointed.

(3) The Lord Chancellor may pay to any person so appointed such remuneration as he may determine.