Part 2: Victims of Major Incidents Meaning of "major incident" etc. Section 35: Appointment of a standing advocate
This section requires the Secretary of State to appoint a standing advocate, which is a permanent position.
	The standing advocate has particular functions, which are set out in subsection 2. These functions include advising the Secretary of State on how victims of major incidents and their treatment by public authorities in response to major incidents can be furthered; advising other advocates as to the exercise of their functions by, for example, developing best practice; and producing an annual report under section 30 to explain to the Secretary of State how they have discharged their functions.
	The standing advocate could advise the Secretary of State under subsection 2(a)) on the most appropriate form of government review following a major incident so that lessons can be learned. This review could include a statutory or non-statutory inquiry.
	Subsection (3) makes clear that the standing advocate may take steps to facilitate the exercise of their functions or the functions of another advocate; or they make take steps which are incidental or conducive to their functions or the functions of another advocate. In practice, this could involve the standing advocate taking steps to upskill, build relationships and prepare ahead of a major incident.
	The Secretary of State must be satisfied that they are appointing a qualified person to be the standing advocate under subsection (4).
	When advising the Secretary of State on the interests of victims of major incidents and their treatment by public authorities in response to major incidents under subsection 2(a), the standing advocate must have regard to the definition of public authority in subsection (5), which does not include the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service or the Government Communications Headquarters.