(1)Where the Children’s Commissioner considers that the case of an individual child in England raises issues of public policy of relevance to other children, he may hold an inquiry into that case for the purpose of investigating and making recommendations about those issues.
(2)The Children’s Commissioner may only conduct an inquiry under this section if he is satisfied that the inquiry would not duplicate work that is the function of another person (having consulted such persons as he considers appropriate).
(3)Before holding an inquiry under this section the Children’s Commissioner must consult the Secretary of State.
(4)The Children’s Commissioner may, if he thinks fit, hold an inquiry under this section, or any part of it, in private.
(5)As soon as possible after completing an inquiry under this section the Children’s Commissioner must—
(a)publish a report containing his recommendations; and
(b)send a copy to the Secretary of State.
(6)The report need not identify any individual child if the Children’s Commissioner considers that it would be undesirable for the identity of the child to be made public.
(7)Where the Children’s Commissioner has published a report under this section containing recommendations in respect of any person exercising functions under any enactment, he may require that person to state in writing, within such period as the Children’s Commissioner may reasonably require, what action the person has taken or proposes to take in response to the recommendations.
(8)Subsections (2) and (3) of section 250 of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) apply for the purposes of an inquiry held under this section with the substitution for references to the person appointed to hold the inquiry of references to the Children’s Commissioner.