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.