Government of Wales Act 1998

24 (1) Apart from identifying any body investigated, a report under paragraph 22(1), a further report under paragraph 23(3) or a report under paragraph 6 shall not—

(a) mention the name of any person, or

(b) include any particulars which, in the opinion of the Welsh Administration Ombudsman, are likely to identify any person and can be omitted without impairing the effectiveness of the report or further report,

unless, after taking account of the public interest (as well as the interests of any person who made a complaint and other persons), the Welsh Administration Ombudsman considers it necessary for the report or further report to mention his name or include such particulars.

(2) For the purposes of the law of defamation, the following are absolutely privileged—

(a) the publication of any matter by the Welsh Administration Ombudsman in a report or statement under paragraph 22, a further report under paragraph 23(3) or a report under paragraph 6,

(b) the publication of any matter in communications between—

(i) an Assembly member or member of the Assembly’s staff, a member of any other body subject to investigation by the Welsh Administration Ombudsman or an officer or member of the staff of any such body, and

(ii) the Welsh Administration Ombudsman or a member of his staff,

in connection with a complaint to the Welsh Administration Ombudsman,

(c) the publication of any matter in communications between any person and an Assembly member in connection with a complaint by the person to the Welsh Administration Ombudsman, and

(d) the publication of any matter in communications between any person and the Welsh Administration Ombudsman or a member of his staff in connection with a complaint by the person to the Welsh Administration Ombudsman.