Commentary Section 7: Regulations about powers to require information
28.Section 7 allows the Secretary of State and the Welsh Ministers to make regulations, for England and Wales respectively, providing powers for persons to require the provision of information. These powers can only be used for housing fraud investigations purposes, which are defined in subsection (7).
29.Regulations may include provision about the persons by whom these powers may be exercised and may, in particular, provide local authorities with the power to authorise persons to exercise the powers (subsection (2)). Subsection (6) requires persons exercising the powers to have regard to guidance issued or approved by the Secretary of State or the Welsh Ministers.
30.Regulations made under this section may, in particular, include provisions equivalent to the provisions in the Social Security Administration Act 1992 listed in subsection (4).