The Debt Relief Orders (Designation of Competent Authorities) Regulations 2009
These Regulations are made under section 251U (approved intermediaries) of the Insolvency Act 1986, inserted by the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. That Act inserted a new Part 7A into the Insolvency Act 1986 making provision for applications for, and making of, debt relief orders. An application for a debt relief order must be made to the official receiver through an approved intermediary. Approved intermediaries are individuals approved by a competent authority to act as an intermediary between a person wishing to make an application for a debt relief order and the official receiver. “Competent authority” means a body for the time being designated by the Secretary of State for the purpose of granting approvals to individuals to act as intermediaries. The Secretary of State is given power to make regulations pursuant to section 251U to provide: (i) for the procedure for designating bodies as competent authorities; (ii) descriptions of individuals who are ineligible to be approved as intermediaries; (iii) the procedure for granting approvals and (iv) for the withdrawal of designations or approvals.