257.Section 69 provides that information obtained by the Ombudsman (or by the Ombudsman’s staff or any other person acting on behalf of the Ombudsman) in relation to an investigation, or obtained from the persons mentioned in subsection (1)(b) to (e) under the provisions mentioned in that subsection, is to be kept confidential except in limited circumstances. Section 69(2) sets out the circumstances in which such information may be disclosed.
258.Section 69(7) provides that neither the Ombudsman nor a member of the Ombudsman’s staff or other person assisting or acting on the Ombudsman’s behalf can be required to give evidence in any proceedings (except proceedings specified in section 69(2)) about:
information obtained to assist the Ombudsman in deciding whether to investigate, during an investigation, in resolving a matter, or in connection with a notification under section 26 or 57; or
information obtained from another ombudsman in consulting and cooperating with the Ombudsman under section 65.