Part V The Children’s Commissioner for Wales
I176 Further functions.
1
Regulations may confer power on the Commissioner to assist a child to whom this Part applies—
a
in making a complaint or representation to or in respect of a provider of regulated children’s services in Wales; or
F1aa
in making a complaint or representation to or in respect of a person mentioned in Schedule 2B or section 73(2B);
b
in any prescribed proceedings,
and in this subsection “proceedings” includes a procedure of any kind and any prospective proceedings.
F21A
The proceedings which may be prescribed by virtue of subsection (1)(b) are proceedings relating to—
a
the exercise or proposed exercise of a function as mentioned in section 72B(1);
b
the provision of services as mentioned in section 78(1)(b) or (c).
2
For the purposes of subsection (1), assistance includes—
a
financial assistance; and
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,
F3a
include provision about the making of reports on any matter connected with any of his functions;
F4b
provide that the Commissioner may make a joint report with the Commissioner for Older People in Wales where they have discharged their respective functions under this Act and the Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Act 2006 in relation to the same matters.
F55A
The references in subsections (4) and (5) to functions of the Commissioner do not include a reference to his power to consider and make representations by virtue of section 75A(1).
6
Apart from identifying any person investigated, a report by the Commissioner shall not—
a
mention the name of any person; or
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.
F68
The Commissioner or a person authorised by him may for the purposes of any function of the Commissioner under section 72B or 73 or subsection (4) of this section at any reasonable time—
a
enter any premises, other than a private dwelling, for the purposes of interviewing any child accommodated or cared for there; and
b
if the child consents, interview the child in private.