(1)Where a Commissioner, at any stage in the course of conducting an investigation, forms the opinion that the complaint relates partly [F1or wholly] to a matter which could be the subject of an investigation—
(a)[F2by the other Health Service Commissioner] under this Act,
(b)by the Parliamentary Commissioner under the M1Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967,
[F3(ba)by the Welsh Administration Ombudsman under the Government of Wales Act 1998,]
(c)by a Local Commissioner under Part III of the M2Local Government Act 1974, or
(d)[F4by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman under the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002],
he shall consult about the complaint with the appropriate Commissioner [F5or F6...Ombudsman] and, if he considers it necessary, he shall inform the person initiating the complaint of the steps necessary to initiate a complaint to that Commissioner [F5or F6...Ombudsman].
(2)Where a Commissioner consults with another Commissioner [F7, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman] [F8or the Welsh Administration Ombudsman] in accordance with this section, the consultations may extend to any matter relating to the complaint, including—
(a)the conduct of any investigation into the complaint, and
(b)the form, content and publication of any report of the results of such an investigation.
(3)Nothing in section 15 (confidentiality of information) applies in relation to the disclosure of information [F9. . .] in the course of consultations held in accordance with this section.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 18(1) inserted (1.4.2004 for W., 1.4.2006 for E.) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), s. 199(1)(4), Sch. 11 para. 64; S.I. 2004/480, art. 4(2)(aa) (with art. 6) (as amended by S.I. 2004/1019 and S.I. 2006/345), S.I. 2005/2925, art. 10(2)(j)
F2Words in s. 18(1)(a) substituted (14.7.2004) by The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1823), arts. 1, 17(9)(a)(i)
F3S. 18(1)(ba) inserted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 38, s. 112, Sch. 10 para. 14(2) (with ss. 139(2), 143(2)); S.I. 1999/782, art. 2
F4Words in s. 18(1)(d) substituted (14.7.2004) by The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1823), arts. 1, 17(9)(a)(ii)
F5Words in s. 18(1) inserted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 38, s. 112, Sch. 10 para. 14(2) (with ss. 139(2), 143(2)); S.I. 1999/782, art. 2
F6Word in s. 18(1) omitted (14.7.2004) by virtue of The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1823), arts. 1, 17(9)(a)(iii)
F7Words in s. 18(2) inserted (14.7.2004) by The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1823), arts. 1, 17(9)(b)
F8Words in s. 18(2) inserted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 38, s. 112, Sch. 10 para. 14(3) (with ss. 139(2), 143(2)); S.I. 1999/782, art. 2
F9Words in s. 18(3) repealed (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 38, ss. 112, 152, Sch. 10 para. 14(4), Sch. 18 Pt. I (with ss. 137(1), 139(2), 141(1), 143(2)); S.I. 1999/782, art. 2
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 18 extended (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1351, art. 17(5)(a); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 3
C2S. 18(1)(b) extended (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1351, art. 17(5)(b); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 3
Marginal Citations