Charities Act 2011

47 Obtaining evidence etc. for purposes of inquiry

(1) In this section “inquiry” means an inquiry under section 46.

(2) For the purposes of an inquiry, the Commission, or a person appointed by the Commission to conduct it, may direct any person—

(a) if a matter in question at the inquiry is one on which the person has or can reasonably obtain information—

(i) to provide accounts and statements in writing with respect to the matter, or to return answers in writing to any questions or inquiries addressed to the person on the matter, and

(ii) to verify any such accounts, statements or answers by statutory declaration;

(b) to provide copies of documents which are in the custody or under the control of the person and which relate to any matter in question at the inquiry, and to verify any such copies by statutory declaration;

(c) to attend at a specified time and place and give evidence or produce any such documents.

But this is subject to the provisions of this section.

(3) For the purposes of an inquiry—

(a) evidence may be taken on oath, and the person conducting the inquiry may for that purpose administer oaths, or

(b) the person conducting the inquiry may instead of administering an oath require the person examined to make and subscribe a declaration of the truth of the matters about which that person is examined.

(4) The Commission may pay to any person attending to give evidence or produce documents for the purpose of an inquiry the necessary expenses of doing so.

(5) A direction under subsection (2)(c) may not require a person to go more than 10 miles from the person’s place of residence unless those expenses are paid or tendered to the person.