The Department may requestF1 the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern IrelandF1 to conduct or assist the Department in conducting studies designed to improve economy, efficiency, effectiveness and quality of performance in the discharge by the Housing Executive of functions relating to the administration of housing benefit.

In the following provisions of this Article “study” means a study whichF1 the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern IrelandF1 is requested to conduct, or assist the Department in conducting, under paragraph (1).

IfF1 the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern IrelandF1 requires the Housing Executive or any officer or member of the Executive to supply him or an authorised person with such information as is needed for the purposes of the study, the Executive or officer or member shall supply the information.

IfF1 the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern IrelandF1 requires the Housing Executive to make available for inspection by him or by an authorised person documents which relate to the Executive and are needed for the purposes of the study, the Executive shall make the documents available.

Any information obtained under a requirement under paragraph (3) or (4) may be disclosed byF1 the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern IrelandF1 to the Department for the purposes of any of its functions which are connected with housing benefit.

In paragraphs (3) and (4) “authorised person” means a person authorised byF1 the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern IrelandF1 for the purposes of this Article.

F1The Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern IrelandF1 shall send to the Department a copy of any report of a study; and the Department or a local government auditor may send a copy of a report of a study to the Housing Executive.

Any report of a study may be published by the Department.

F1The Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern IrelandF1 shall not conduct, or assist the Department in conducting, a study unless, before he does so, the Department has made arrangements for the payment of such reasonable amount as may be agreed between it andF1 The Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern IrelandF1 in respect of the study.

The Department may supply toF1 the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern IrelandF1 any information held by it which relates to housing benefit and which appears to it to be relevant to the exercise of any function ofF1 the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern IrelandF1.