55Investigations on behalf of Commission
(1)If it appears to the Commission desirable to do so for the purposes of its supervisory functions in relation to a building society, the Commission may appoint one or more competent persons to investigate and report to it on the state and conduct of the business of the society concerned, or any particular aspect of that business.
(2)If a person appointed under subsection (1) above thinks it necessary for the purposes of his investigation, he may also investigate the business of any body corporate which is or has at any relevant time been—
(a)a subsidiary of the building society under investigation or,
(b)an associated body (other than a subsidiary) of that society.
(3)It shall be the duty of every officer, employee and agent of a building society or other body which is under investigation—
(a)to produce to the persons appointed under subsection (1) above all records, books and papers relating to the body concerned which are in his custody or power; and
(b)to attend before those persons when required to do so; and
(c)otherwise to give to those persons all assistance in connection with the investigation which he is reasonably able to give.
(4)Any officer, employee or agent of a building society or other body who—
(a)without reasonable excuse fails to produce any records, books or papers which it is his duty to produce under subsection (3) above, or
(b)without reasonable excuse fails to attend before the person appointed under subsection (1) above when required to do so, or
(c)without reasonable excuse fails to answer any question which is put to him by persons so appointed with respect to any building society or other body corporate which is under investigation,
shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
(5)Any officer, employee or agent of a building society or other body who knowingly or recklessly furnishes to any person appointed under subsection (1) above any information which is false or misleading in a material particular, shall be liable—
(a)on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or both ; and
(b)on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.
(6)In this section—
(a)" agent", in relation to a building society or other body whose business is under investigation, includes its bankers, its accountants and solicitors and any persons, where they are not officers of the other body concerned, who are employed as its auditors ;
(b)" the purposes of its supervisory functions ", in relation to the Commission, has the same meaning as in section 52; and
(c)any reference to an officer, employee or agent of a building society or other body includes a reference to a person who has been but no longer is an officer, employee or agent of that society or other body.