4(1)The Chief Inspector must, as soon as possible after the end of each financial year, prepare a report on how he has exercised his functions during the financial year.
(2)The Chief Inspector must send a copy of each annual report to the Secretary of State who must—
(a)lay a copy of it before each House of Parliament, and
(b)arrange for it to be published.
(3)But the Secretary of State may exclude a part of an annual report from the copy so laid or published if, in his opinion, the laying or publication of the part—
(a)would be against the public interest, or
(b)might jeopardise the safety of any person.
(4)If the Secretary of State excludes a part of an annual report from laying or publication, he must lay or publish with the annual report a statement that it has been excluded.
(5)In this paragraph “financial year” means—
(a)the period beginning with the day on which section 45 comes into force and ending with the first 31st March which falls at least six months after that day, and
(b)each subsequent period of twelve months beginning with 1st April.