(1)The Scottish Ministers may, for any purpose mentioned in subsection (2), serve on a person a notice requiring the person—
(a)to provide the Scottish Ministers, or a person authorised by them, at a time and place and in the form and manner specified in the notice, with such information relating to the affairs of a local authority or, as the case may be, a registered social landlord in connection with the provision of housing accommodation and related services as may be specified or described in the notice, or
(b)to produce to the Scottish Ministers, or a person authorised by them, at a time and place specified in the notice, any documents relating to such affairs which are specified or described in the notice and are in that person’s custody or under that person’s control.
(2)The purposes referred to in subsection (1) are any purpose connected with the provision of housing accommodation and related services by the authority or, as the case may be, the landlord.
(3)A notice in pursuance of subsection (1) in relation to a local authority may be served on—
(a)the authority,
(b)an officer or employee of the authority,
(c)any other person whom the Scottish Ministers have reason to believe is or may be in possession of relevant information.
(4)No notice is to be served on a person falling within paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (3) unless—
(a)a notice has been served on the local authority and has not been complied with, or
(b)the Scottish Ministers believe that the information or documents in question are not in the possession of the authority.
(5)A notice in pursuance of subsection (1) in relation to a registered social landlord may be served on—
(a)the landlord,
(b)any person who is, or has been, an officer, member, employee or agent of the landlord,
(c)a subsidiary or associate of the landlord,
(d)any person who is, or has been, an officer, member, employee or agent of a subsidiary or associate of the landlord,
(e)any other person whom the Scottish Ministers have reason to believe is or may be in possession of relevant information.
(6)No notice is to be served on a person falling within paragraphs (b) to (e) of subsection (5) unless—
(a)a notice has been served on the registered social landlord and has not been complied with, or
(b)the Scottish Ministers believe that the information or documents in question are not in the possession of the landlord.