Government of Wales Act 1998

Staff and advisers

5 (1) The Welsh Administration Ombudsman may appoint such staff as he considers necessary for assisting him in the exercise of his functions.

(2) The Welsh Administration Ombudsman shall include among his staff such persons having a command of the Welsh language as he considers are needed to enable him to investigate complaints in Welsh.

(3) Service as a member of the staff of the Welsh Administration Ombudsman shall be service in Her Majesty’s Home Civil Service.

(4) The Assembly shall pay to the Minister for the Civil Service, at such times as he may direct, such sums as he may determine in respect of any increase attributable to sub-paragraph (3) in the sums payable out of money provided by Parliament under the [1972 c. 11.] Superannuation Act 1972.

(5) Any function of the Welsh Administration Ombudsman may be exercised by—

(a) a member of his staff,

(b) a member of the staff of the Health Service Commissioner for Wales, or

(c) an officer of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration or of either of the other Health Service Commissioners,

if authorised by the Welsh Administration Ombudsman for that purpose; and references in any enactment to a member of the staff of the Welsh Administration Ombudsman include any person exercising any function of his by virtue of paragraph (b) or (c).

(6) To assist him in the exercise of his functions the Welsh Administration Ombudsman may obtain advice from any person who, in his opinion, is qualified to give it.

(7) The Welsh Administration Ombudsman may pay to any person from whom he obtains advice under sub-paragraph (6) any such fees or allowances as he may determine.

(8) No arrangements shall be made—

(a) for any of the functions of the Welsh Administration Ombudsman or of the Assembly to be exercised by the other or by a member of the other’s staff, or

(b) for the provision of any administrative, professional or technical services by the Welsh Administration Ombudsman or the Assembly for the other.