(1)The Secretary of State may cause an inquiry to be held into any matter connected with the exercise by the Commission of its functions.
(2)The appropriate Minister may cause an inquiry to be held into any matter connected with a service provided in or by an establishment or agency.
(3)Before an inquiry is begun, the person causing the inquiry to be held may direct that it shall be held in private.
(4)Where no direction has been given, the person holding the inquiry may if he thinks fit hold it, or any part of it, in private.
(5)Subsections (2) to (5) of section 250 of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (powers in relation to local inquiries) shall apply in relation to an inquiry under this section as they apply in relation to a local inquiry under that section; and references in those provisions as so applied to a Minister shall be taken to include references to the Assembly.
(6)Subsections (3) and (4) apply in relation to an inquiry under section 35 of the [1998 c. 38.] Government of Wales Act 1998 into any matter relevant to the exercise of—
(a)any functions exercisable by the Assembly by virtue of section 5(b) or 8(3); or
(b)any other functions exercisable by the Assembly corresponding to functions exercisable by the Commission in relation to England,
as they apply in relation to an inquiry under this section.
(7)The report of the person who held the inquiry shall, unless the Minister who caused the inquiry to be held considers that there are exceptional circumstances which make it inappropriate to publish it, be published in a manner which that Minister considers appropriate.