Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon & East Thurrock, led a debate in the House of Commons on Friday for the third reading of his Powers of Attorney Bill.
Stephen Metcalfe’s Private Members’ Bill on Powers of Attorney will modernise, digitise and safeguard the process of applying for a lasting power of attorney (LPA), whilst still maintaining an updated paper channel.
The Bill is relatively tight in scope and takes immense care to reform the current application process. By providing a new digital channel, it will increase safeguards for donors through improvements to the notifications and objections process; by restricting applications to the donor; and through the introduction of identity verification.
The Bill also works to increase the efficiency of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) which has become backlogged since the pandemic. By introducing updated paper forms and providing a digital channel, it will build resilience into the OPG which receives 67,000 LPA applications per month. The Bill will introduce a fluid system by which donors, attorneys and others involved can use the channel, digital or paper, that best suits their skills, confidence and access.
Members of Parliament from across the House of Commons made helpful contributions to the debate on Friday for the Bill’s third reading. James Wild, MP for North West Norfolk, praised the Bill’s sustainability criteria. Nickie Aiken, MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, added her personal experiences of the LPA process when her father came to the end of his life. Gagan Mohindra, MP for South West Hertfordshire, agreed with Ms Aiken that more had to be done to reduce taboo around the subject. Overall, the House agreed that the Bill did well to improve the LPA process for donors by updating it for the modern times.
Nickie Aiken MP said: “I am incredibly glad that this Bill has had full support from the Government during its passage through Parliament. After all, it is a wholly sensible Bill and will bring lasting powers of attorney into the 21st century.”
Mike Freer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Courts and Legal Services, said: “If I may, first of all, thank my honourable friend, the Member for South Basildon and East Thurrock for his sterling work on this valuable Bill; in steering it through to this stage. He has done an amazing amount of work in the background, not just in this place, but in the Chamber and in Committee, to ensure that it has obtained cross-party support.”
Stephen Metcalfe MP said: “I thank the Minister for his support during the passage of the Bill.
I know he agrees with me that these changes are urgently needed, so that LPAs and powers of attorney can continue to provide the support that people need. As I said, these are powerful documents and the Bill will help to improve their sustainability, reliability and access.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to those who have raised questions and points during this process and to all the external organisations that have expressed interest in and support for these measures. I hope my Bill continues to progress well once it passes to the other place, so that an improved system can be implemented and delivered for the benefit of those we serve as soon as possible.”
