The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following after section 176:

"176A. Supervision

The Insolvency Service may, for the purpose of ensuring compliance by personal insolvency practitioners with their obligations under this Act, supervise personal insolvency practitioners in the performance of their functions under this Act.

176B. Authorised Officers

(1) For the purposes of this Act -

(a) the Director of the Insolvency Service may appoint such members of the staff of the Insolvency Service as he or she deems appropriate to be authorised officers for such period and subject to such terms as the Director may determine,

(b) the Director of the Insolvency Service may appoint such other persons as he or she deems appropriate to be authorised officers for such period and subject to such terms (including terms as to remuneration and allowances for expenses) as the Director, with the approval of the Minister and the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, may determine.

(2) Each authorised officer shall be given a warrant of appointment and, when performing any function imposed under this Act, shall, on request by any person affected, produce the warrant or a copy thereof, together with a form of personal identification.

(3) An appointment under this section shall cease -

(a) if the Insolvency Service revokes the appointment,