(1)The Secretary of State may make regulations about the conduct of investigations by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch; in particular, the regulations may—
(a)confer a function on the Chief Inspector of Rail Accidents or on the Branch;
(b)make provision about the way in which a function of the Chief Inspector or the Branch is to be performed;
(c)permit or require the Chief Inspector to appoint a person to conduct or participate in an investigation;
(d)provide for a power of an inspector to be exercisable by a person conducting or participating in an investigation by virtue of paragraph (c);
(e)permit or require the Chief Inspector to request assistance from another person;
(f)permit or require another person to assist the Chief Inspector.
(2)The regulations may make provision about the preparation, form, content and publication of a report made by the Branch under section 7; in particular, the regulations may—
(a)require a report to address the question of what caused an accident or incident;
(b)require or permit a report to make, or not to make, a recommendation;
(c)require or permit the preparation and publication by the Branch of an interim report;
(d)require the Branch to give an opportunity to a person interested in an investigation to comment on a draft report or draft interim report;
(e)require the Branch to notify a person of the content of a report or interim report before publication;
(f)require the Branch to give a copy of a report or interim report to a person;
(g)make provision about the timing of publication.
(3)A reference to a report by the Branch in section 7 includes a reference to an interim report permitted or required by virtue of subsection (2) above.
(4)The Secretary of State may make regulations about the use, disclosure and destruction of information acquired by the Branch; in particular, the regulations may—
(a)prohibit the disclosure of information in specified circumstances;
(b)permit the disclosure of information in specified circumstances;
(c)require the disclosure of information in specified circumstances;
(d)make provision by reference to whether or not a person consents to a disclosure which relates to him.
(5)Regulations under this section may—
(a)create an offence (but not an offence punishable by imprisonment);
(b)confer a discretionary function;
(c)confer jurisdiction on a court or tribunal.