Commentary on Sections Part 9 – Health and adult social care services: information Functions: quality of health and adult social care information Section 267 - Power to establish an accreditation scheme
1449.This section enables the Secretary of State, through regulations, to make provision for a scheme to accredit (kite-mark) organisations that act as information intermediaries. Such accreditation schemes may be run by the Information Centre or by any other body specified by the Secretary of State in regulations.
1450.Regulations may provide a body operating an accreditation scheme with the power to establish the accreditation procedure, set accreditation criteria, keep the accreditation scheme under review and charge those applying for accreditation reasonable fees.
1451.Regulations may also specify that a body operating an accreditation scheme must publish details of the accreditation process, including the criteria that must be met for accreditation, provide an appeals process when an application for accreditation is refused and provide those applying for accreditation with advice.
1452.Subsection (5) defines the types of bodies that may apply for accreditation under a scheme.