Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department is taking steps to help reduce the cost of obtaining lasting power of attorney for the families of people with dementia.

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) administers lasting power of attorney (LPA) registrations. Its operating costs are entirely fee funded. The current fee, £82 for LPA registration, has reduced over time from £150 in 2007 when LPAs were first introduced, due to OPG’s work to realise efficiencies. OPG also operates a fee remission and exemption scheme for those on defined benefits or low income.

Reform of the system is now needed which is why the Government is supporting the Powers of Attorney Bill, a Private Members Bill. The Bill seeks to make the process of registering a lasting power of attorney safer, easier and more sustainable while also keeping fees affordable in the longer term.