Commentary on Sections Part 2: New Regulatory Arrangements, Etc 165. .Section 47: Investigations by the Council.
This section adds a new section to the WIA. New section 29A gives the Council scope to carry out investigations relating to the interests of consumers where no specific complaint has been made. The Council is required to consult the Authority, the Secretary of State and the Assembly before embarking on such an investigation. After an investigation the Council may make a report to the Authority, the Secretary of State, the Assembly, the Office of Fair Trading or any other public authority that has an interest in the matter. The Council may also publish these reports, subject to certain restrictions on disclosure of information relating to individuals or bodies. Disclosure is also restricted where information relates to any matter which is, or likely to be, the subject of criminal proceedings. The Council, in deciding whether disclosure is appropriate in such cases, needs to consider the opinions of the Secretary of State, the Assembly or the Director of Public Prosecutions.