1.  These Regulations may be cited as the National Assistance (Powers of Inspection) Regulations, 1948, and shall come into operation on the fifth day of July, 1948.

2.—(1) In these regulations “the Act” means the National Assistance Act, 1948.

(2) The Interpretation Act, 1889, applies to the interpretation of these regulations as it applies to the interpretation of an Act of Parliament.

3.—(1) Any officer of the Minister authorized to act for the purposes of these regulations shall have power at all reasonable times—

(a)to enter any premises, whether managed by a local authority or a voluntary organisation, in which accommodation is provided under Part III of the Act;

(b)to enter any workshop or hostel provided, whether by a local authority or a voluntary organisation, under section 29 or 30 of the Act;

and to make such examination into the state and management of the premises, workshop or hostel, and the arrangements made for the welfare of the persons being provided with accommodation in any premises or hostel, or of the persons employed in any workshop, as he thinks requisite.

(2) Any such officer as aforesaid shall also have power at all reasonable times to inspect any other arrangements made by a local authority, or by a voluntary organisation as agent of a local authority, under section 29 or 30 of the Act.

(3) Any such officer as aforesaid shall also have power at all reasonable times to inspect any arrangements for the provision of recreation or meals for old people made by a voluntary organisation to whose funds a local authority are making contributions under section 31 of the Act.

4.  Any such officer as aforesaid exercising any power conferred on him by these regulations may call for and examine any documents in the possession of a local authority or voluntary organisation which he considers necessary to enable him properly to exercise that power.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These regulations provide for the exercise by officers of the Minister of Health, authorized for the purpose, of powers of entry into and inspection of premises in which accommodation is provided under Part III of the National Assistance Act, 1948, and powers of inspecting arrangements made by or on behalf of local authorities for the welfare of blind, deaf, dumb, crippled and other handicapped persons, or made by voluntary organisations for providing old people with recreation or meals.