The Farm Enterprise Grant and Farm Improvement Grant (Wales) Regulations 2001

Powers of authorised persons

13.—(1) An authorised person may at all reasonable times, on producing if so required, some duly authenticated document showing his or her authority, enter onto any land, other than land used solely for the purpose of a dwelling house :—

(a) to which financial support or a commitment relates, or

(b) on which he or she has reasonable grounds to believe that documents relating to financial support or a commitment are being kept,

for any of the purposes mentioned in paragraph (2).

(2) Those purposes are —

(a) inspecting the land to which financial support or a commitment relates;

(b) verifying the accuracy of any information provided by a beneficiary relating to financial support or a commitment; and

(c) determining whether or not a beneficiary has complied with a commitment.

(3) An authorised person who has entered onto any land under paragraph (1) may —

(a) inspect the land and any document, record or equipment on it, which he or she reasonably believes, relates to financial support or a commitment;

(b) require the beneficiary, or any employee, servant or agent of such beneficiary, to produce, or secure the production of, any document or supply any additional information in his or her possession or under his or her control relating to financial support or a commitment;

(c) where any information referred to in sub-paragraph (b) is kept by means of a computer, have access to any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been used for storing that information and require the information to be reproduced in a form in which it is legible and can be taken away;

(d) require copies of or extracts from any such document or other record referred to in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) to be produced;

(e) retain a copy of any document produced to him or her; and

(f) seize and retain any document or other record which he or she reasonably believes may be required as evidence in proceedings under these Regulations.

(4) A beneficiary or any employee, servant or agent of the beneficiary shall give an authorised person all reasonable assistance in relation to the exercise of his or her powers under paragraphs (1) and (3).

(5) An authorised person entering any land under paragraph (1) may be accompanied by —

(a) any official of the Commission, and

(b) such other persons as he or she considers necessary,

and paragraphs (3) and (4) shall apply in relation to any persons referred to in sub-paragraph (b), when acting under the instructions of an authorised person, as if he or she were an authorised person.