Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Baroness Gardner of Parkes (Conservative). It was answered on Monday, 30 June 2008.

Office of the Public Guardian: Lasting Powers of Attorney

Question: My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Does he accept that it is now taking four months to set up a lasting power of attorney where it took only a month to set up the old one, that costs have risen fourfold to more than £1,000 a time and that relatives now have to complete two forms, each of 25 pages, compared with a single four-page document previously? Is any consideration being given to reducing those 25 pages?

Answer: My Lords, I think that the cost must refer to the cost of lawyers, which is a question between the client and the lawyer. Some of the time built into the new system is because of the safeguards that were deemed to be necessary and were thought to be absent from the previous system. I have copies of both forms, which were carefully prepared in consultation with stakeholders. However, I am sure that over the next few months there will be an opportunity to take account of the comments made by the noble Baroness. We are committed to reducing the time for the overall process to the absolute minimum.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 703 c6-7
Session: 2007-08
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Applications Costs Administrative delays Forms Powers of attorney Office of the Public Guardian
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk