Section 13: Inspectors
40.Subsections (1) and (2) of this section allow the Secretary of State to appoint persons to act as inspectors to assist in carrying out the Secretary of State’s functions under this Chapter, and enable the inspectors to be remunerated.
41.Subsection (3) gives the Secretary of State the power to make regulations (subject to negative resolution procedure – see section 105) setting out the powers and duties of the inspectors and of any other person acting on the directions of the Secretary of State in connection with a function under this Chapter (such persons may include, for example, surveyors or other contractors instructed by the Secretary of State). These are likely to include, for example, powers of entry and investigation and the right to take samples. Subsection (5) enables such regulations to create criminal offences (for example it might be an offence to obstruct an inspector in the exercise of functions under the regulations). Such offences will attract the penalty of a fine of up to the statutory maximum (currently £5,000 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and £10,000 in Scotland) or such lesser amount as is specified in the regulations, on summary conviction, or an unlimited fine on conviction on indictment.