Part 1The Judiciary

F1The Ombudsman

F29FReport procedure

(1)

This section applies to a report under section 9E.

(2)

The Ombudsman must submit a draft of the report—

F3(a)

if the complaint was a Commission complaint, to the First Minister and deputy First Minister and to the Commission;

(b)

otherwise, to the Lord Chancellor.

(3)

In finalising the report the Ombudsman—

(a)

must have regard to any proposal F4for changes in the draft report which is made—

(i)

if the complaint was a Commission complaint, by the First Minister and deputy First Minister acting jointly or by the Commission;

(ii)

otherwise, by the Lord Chancellor;

(b)

must include in the report a statement of any such proposal not given effect to.

(4)

The report must be signed by the Ombudsman.

(5)

If the complaint was a Commission complaint the Ombudsman must send the report in duplicate to the F5First Minister and deputy First Minister and to the Commission.

(6)

Otherwise the Ombudsman must send the report to the Lord Chancellor.

(7)

The Ombudsman must send a copy of the report to the complainant, but that copy must not include information—

(a)

which relates to an identified or identifiable individual other than the complainant, and

(b)

whose disclosure by the Ombudsman to the complainant would (apart from this subsection) be contrary to section 9I.