Commentary on Sections Constitution of Inquiry Section 6: Minister’s duty to inform Parliament or Assembly
15.This section requires the Minister to inform “the relevant Parliament or Assembly” that he intends to hold an inquiry and to give certain details about it. As the definition of this expression in section 43 makes clear, the relevant Parliament or Assembly will depend upon whether the Minister is a UK Minister or a Minister in a devolved administration. If the inquiry is being set up jointly by Ministers from more than one administration, this section requires statements to be made to each relevant Parliament or Assembly. The Act requires statements to be made “as soon as is reasonably practical”, which allows for periods of recess, for example.