Prospective
(1)The Welsh Ministers may at any time require any person specified in subsection (3) to provide them with any information, documents, records (including personal records) or other items—
(a)which relates or relate to the exercise by a local authority of its functions under sections 7 to 12, and
(b)which the Welsh Ministers—
(i)consider necessary or expedient to have for the purpose of any of their functions relating to the exercise by a local authority of its functions under sections 7 to 12, or
(ii)consider necessary or expedient for any person exercising functions under sections 14 to 15 to have for the purpose of those functions.
(2)The Welsh Ministers may share anything obtained under subsection (1) with any person exercising functions under sections 14 to 15.
(3)The persons referred to in subsection (1) are—
(a)a local authority;
(b)any person with whom the authority have entered into arrangements—
(i)in the exercise of any of its functions under sections 7 to 12, or
(ii)in connection with any related activity.
(4)The power in subsection (1) includes, in relation to information, documents or records kept by means of a computer, power to require provision of them in a legible form which can be taken away.
(5)The power in subsection (1) does not include power to require the provision of information, documents or records in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.
(6)Any person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with any requirement imposed by virtue of this section is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.