PART 7Miscellaneous

Discretionary support

Discretionary support CommissionerI1136

1

There shall be an officer known as “the discretionary support Commissioner”.

2

The discretionary support Commissioner shall be appointed by the Department on such terms and conditions as the Department may determine.

3

The discretionary support Commissioner—

a

shall appoint such discretionary support inspectors, and

b

may appoint such staff for the Commissioner and for discretionary support inspectors,

as the Commissioner thinks fit but with the consent of the Department.

4

Appointments under paragraph (3) shall be made from persons made available to the Commissioner by the Department.

5

Discretionary support inspectors have such functions as are conferred or imposed on them—

a

by regulations under Article 135, or

b

by any other statutory provision,

in relation to the review of decisions of the Department.

6

It shall be the duty of the discretionary support Commissioner—

a

to monitor the quality of decisions of discretionary support inspectors and give them such advice and assistance as the Commissioner thinks fit to improve the standard of their decisions;

b

to arrange such training of discretionary support inspectors as the Commissioner considers necessary;

c

to carry out such other functions in connection with the work of discretionary support inspectors as the Department may require;

d

to report annually in writing to the Department on the standards of reviews by discretionary support inspectors.

7

The Department shall publish any report made under paragraph (6)(d).

8

In Part 1 of Schedule 4 to the Administration Act after the entries under the heading “The social fund” insert—

Discretionary support officers

The discretionary support Commissioner.

A discretionary support inspector.

A member of any staff appointed under Article 136(3)(b) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015.

9

In the Freedom of Information Act 2000, in Part 7 of Schedule 1 after the entry relating to the social fund Commissioner insert—

The discretionary support Commissioner appointed under Article 136 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015.