Select Committee evidence

Evidence from BARONESS ASHTON OF UPHOLLAND and DR ANDREW McDONALD is now
on the Parliament website

One of many interesting sections in the report:

- still vague on S36

Q322 Dr Whitehead: In terms of implementation, one of the problems that
has been, I think, identified with both costs and the speed of
implementation has been the slow progress of some key areas of guidance
from the Department. Indeed, it is suggested, well, it is known that in
one area the decision on the section 36 "nominated person" has yet to be
issued and therefore a number of local authorities, for example, are
still not clear who is the nominated person and therefore who should
receive training and therefore how that person then implements the
process. Why has that still not been issued?

As for the qualified person, the qualified person who may be making
decisions under section 36, I think the important issue with section 36
"qualified person" is that there is somebody in place come January of
next year, and we are now moving to make sure that through the
respective departments ? so ODPM for local government ? the
identification of "qualified persons" happens. That will be happening
over the next few weeks, but that is something that really is only
needed come January of next year. There is no specific training that is
needed for "qualified person".