PART 8SOCIAL SERVICES FUNCTIONS
Intervention by central government
161Powers of entry and inspection
(1)
A person falling within subsection (2) has at all reasonable times—
(a)
a right of entry to the premises of the local authority in question;
(b)
a right to inspect, and take copies of, any records or other documents kept by the authority, and any other documents containing information relating to the authority, which the person considers relevant to the exercise of his or her functions under or by virtue of this Part.
(2)
The following persons fall within this subsection—
(a)
a person specified in a direction under section 153 or, where the direction specifies a class of persons, the person with whom the local authority enters into the contract or other arrangement required by the direction;
(b)
a person specified in a direction under section 154;
(c)
the Welsh Ministers in pursuance of a direction under section 155;
(d)
a person nominated by a direction under section 155.
(3)
In exercising the right under subsection (1)(b) to inspect records or other documents, a person (“P”)—
(a)
is entitled to have access to, and inspect and check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been in use in connection with the records or other documents in question, and
(b)
may require the following persons to provide any assistance P may reasonably require (including, among other things, the making of information available for inspection or copying in a legible form)—
(i)
the person by whom or on whose behalf the computer is or has been so used;
(ii)
any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material.
(4)
Any reference in this section to a person falling within subsection (2) includes a reference to any person assisting that person.
(5)
In this section “document” and “records” each include information recorded in any form.