(1)The Minister may hold such inquiries as he considers necessary or desirable for the purposes of this Act, and the Minister, and, if authorised by the Minister, the person appointed to hold any such inquiry, may by order require any person, subject to the payment or tender of the reasonable expenses of his attendance, to attend as a witness and give evidence or to produce any documents in his possession or power which relate to any matter in question at the inquiry, and are such as would be subject to production in a court of law, and, if any person fails without reasonable excuse to comply with any of the provisions of any such order he shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding five pounds, and the person holding the inquiry shall have power to take evidence on oath and for that purpose to administer oaths.
(2)Notices of inquiries may be given and published in accordance with such general or special directions as the Minister may give.
(3)The powers of the Minister under this section shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any powers of holding inquiries transferred to him from any other Government Department under this Act.