Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to (a) publicise and (b) promote the (i) role and (ii) importance of lasting power of attorney orders.

The Public Guardian is committed to making Lasting Power of Attorney attainable and accessible for all and I recognise that awareness of OPG’s services is key to achieving this.

OPG’s targeted Your Voice Your Decision campaign has sought to raise awareness of the benefits of LPAs and tackle common misconceptions. This has included targeted commercial and community radio advertising and working with partners to reach key audiences.

A range of social media channels are used to explain how OPG’s services can be accessed and how applications can be completed accurately.  OPG maintains regular dialogue with key stakeholders to raise awareness about OPGs services and to highlight the importance of planning for the future and considering whether a lasting power of attorney is the right option.  OPG also works collaboratively with stakeholders to help users make and use LPAs effectively, including through presentations delivered by OPG at stakeholder events.

The Government is currently supporting the Power of Attorney Private Member’s Bill. This will make possible reforms that will modernise and strengthen the process and enable individuals to make an LPA completely online for the first time. An improved paper process will also be introduced for those who are unable to or choose not to use the internet.