Commentary on Sections Part 3 - Health Schedule 7 –The Health Research Authority Part 2 - Functions
681.Paragraph 13 places a requirement on the HRA to exercise its functions effectively, efficiently and economically. Provision is made to enable the HRA to arrange for any person to exercise on its behalf, or assist with the exercise of its functions and to make payments to them. Sub-paragraph (5) gives the HRA a general power to do anything which appears to it to be necessary or desirable for the purpose of, or in connection with the exercise of its functions.
682.Paragraph 14(1) makes provision for the HRA to provide help or advice to another public authority (as defined in sub-paragraphs (3) and (4)) for the purpose of the exercise of functions by that public authority to meet its objectives. By way of example, it is envisaged that this power could be used to enable HRA to advise and assist the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in relation to applications to process information under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Disclosure of Information for Research Purposes) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/995). Sub-paragraph (2) makes provision for the HRA to determine the terms under which it provides the help or advice in sub-paragraph (1), including rates of pay and allowances.
683.Paragraph 15 enables Scottish Ministers, Welsh Ministers, or the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland to arrange for the HRA to exercise certain functions. These are those functions which relate to health or social care research and correspond to a function of the HRA, or to provide services or facilities to them in connection with the exercise of such functions. Sub-paragraph (2) makes express provision to enable the parties to agree for the HRA to receive payments to recoup its costs.
684.If the Secretary of State considers that the HRA is failing or has failed to exercise its functions, and the failure is significant, paragraph 16(1) would give the Secretary of State the power to direct the HRA to perform its functions. If the HRA fails to comply with the direction made under sub-paragraph (1), sub-paragraph (2) would enable the Secretary of State to exercise the functions specified in the direction, or make arrangements for another person to exercise those functions on his behalf. Where the Secretary of State exercises the power under sub-paragraph (1) or (2), he must publish the reasons for doing so