Health Service Commissioners Act 1993

18 Consultation during investigations

(1) Where a Commissioner, at any stage in the course of conducting an investigation, forms the opinion that the complaint relates partly to a matter which could be the subject of an investigation—

(a) by either of the other Health Service Commissioners under this Act,

(b) by the Parliamentary Commissioner under the [1967 c. 13.] Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967,

(c) by a Local Commissioner under Part III of the [1974 c. 7.] Local Government Act 1974, or

(d) by the Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland under Part II of the [1975 c. 30.] Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975,

he shall consult about the complaint with the appropriate Commissioner and, if he considers it necessary, he shall inform the person initiating the complaint of the steps necessary to initiate a complaint to that Commissioner.

(2) Where a Commissioner consults with another Commissioner in accordance with this section, the consultations may extend to any matter relating to the complaint, including—

(a) the conduct of any investigation into the complaint, and

(b) the form, content and publication of any report of the results of such an investigation.

(3) Nothing in section 15 (confidentiality of information) applies in relation to the disclosure of information by a Commissioner or his officers in the course of consultations held in accordance with this section.