facilitate the drawing of conclusions about the discharge of those bodies' functions under Part 2 (community planning) of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 (asp 1).

to make such arrangements for collecting and recording the information as secure that the information is available for publication and, so far as practicable, that everything published in pursuance of the direction is accurate and complete;

within the period of six months beginning with the end of that financial yearor other period, to publish the information, in accordance with the direction, and by one of the methods permitted by section 1A below; and

to keep a document containing any information published in pursuance of the direction available for inspection by interested persons.

at all reasonable times and without payment, to inspect and make copies of the whole or any part of a document kept available for inspection under subsection (2)(c) above; and

to require copies of the whole or a part of any such document to be delivered to him on payment of a reasonable sum for each copy.

obstructs a person in the exercise of his rights under subsection (4) above; or

refuses to comply with a requirement under subsection (4)(b) above,

in relation to England and Wales, to any body with which the Audit Commission is concerned, other than one falling within subsection (8) below; and

in relation to Scotland, to any local authority, joint board or joint committee, within the meaning of the 1973 Act.

parish and community councils and any parish meeting of a parish not having a separate parish council;

charter trustees constituted under section 246 of the 1972 Act;

health service bodies within the meaning of Part III of the 1982 Act;

port health authorities;

licensing planning committees;

internal drainage boards;

probation committees; and

Passenger Transport Executives.

identify the financial year or yearsF4or other periods in relation to which the information is to be published;

specify or describe the activities to which the information is to relate; and

make provision as to the matters to be contained in the information and as to the form in which it is to be published.

may be given so as to apply either to all the relevant bodies with which the Commission giving the direction is concerned or to all such bodies as are of a description specified in the direction; and

may be varied or revoked by any subsequent direction under that section.

publish the direction in such manner as it considers appropriate for bringing it to the attention of members of the public; and

send a copy of the direction to every relevant body on whom duties are imposed by virtue of the direction.

the imposition of any requirement by the first direction under section 1 above to apply to that body; or

studies designed to enable the Audit Commission or, as the case may be, the Scottish Accounts Commission to determine what directions it should give under section 1 above; and

studies of information published in pursuance of directions under section 1 above which are designed to enable the Commission in question to determine, in relation to each financial year, what comparative information to publish itself about the standards of performance achieved by relevant bodies;