Government of Wales Act 1998

19 (1) Where the Welsh Administration Ombudsman proposes to conduct an investigation pursuant to a complaint made to him, he shall afford to—

(a) the body concerned, and

(b) any person who is alleged in the complaint to have taken or authorised the action complained of,

an opportunity to comment on any allegations contained in the complaint.

(2) The investigation shall be conducted in private but in other respects the procedure for conducting the investigation shall be such as the Welsh Administration Ombudsman considers appropriate in the circumstances of the case; and, in particular, the Welsh Administration Ombudsman—

(a) may obtain information from such persons and in such manner, and make such inquiries, as he thinks fit, and

(b) may determine whether any person may be represented, by counsel or solicitor or otherwise, in the investigation.

(3) The Welsh Administration Ombudsman may, if he thinks fit, pay to the person by whom the complaint was made and to any other person who attends or supplies information for the purposes of an investigation—

(a) sums in respect of expenses properly incurred by them, and

(b) allowances by way of compensation for the loss of their time,

in accordance with such scales, and subject to such conditions, as may be determined by the Welsh Administration Ombudsman.

(4) The conduct of an investigation shall not affect—

(a) any action taken, or

(b) any power or duty to take further action with respect to any matters subject to the investigation.