Part 4: The Health Services Safety Investigations Body Oversight of functions Section 129: Failure to exercise functions
This section provides for intervention by the Secretary of State should the HSSIB fail significantly to carry out its functions (which includes failing to carry them out properly). In that event, the section confers on the Secretary of State a power to direct the HSSIB as to how to exercise its functions, setting a time frame if appropriate. In the event that the HSSIB failed to comply with such directions, the Secretary of State may exercise the functions in question or arrange for another party to do so. The Secretary of State, when giving a direction, cannot direct the HSSIB about the outcome of a particular investigation.