23.Section 17 gives the regulator the power to commission studies or to carry them out itself to inform its approach towards meeting its objective. The regulator is able to, but is not required to, publish a report on any study or research.
24.Section 18 requires the SHR to co-operate with other relevant regulators. Subsection (2) sets out the bodies that are considered to be relevant regulators. These are:
the Office for Tenants and Social Landlords (known as the Tenant Services Authority)
the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland
the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
the Financial Services Authority
the Registrar of Companies
the Accounts Commission for Scotland.
25.In relation to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, section 137 of the Act expands the co-operation duties of the SHR and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.
26.Section 18(3) allows the SHR to disclose any information to the relevant regulator for any purpose connected with the performance of its functions or in order to enable or assist the relevant regulator to perform any function.
27.Section 19 stipulates that the SHR must annually prepare and publish a general report on how it has used its functions, lay a copy before the Scottish Parliament and send a copy to Scottish Ministers. Subsection (2) states that this report must include information about the use of the regulator’s powers under Parts 4 (Inquiries and Information) and Part 5 (Regulatory Intervention) of this Act. Subsection (3) gives the regulator discretion to decide what other information should be in the report, what the report looks like and how it is to be published.