20(1)For the purposes of an investigation by the Welsh Administration Ombudsman he may require—
(a)any member of, or any officer or member of the staff of, the body concerned, or
(b)any other person who in his opinion is able to supply information or produce documents relevant to the investigation,
to supply such information or produce such documents.
(2)For the purposes of any such investigation the Welsh Administration Ombudsman shall have the same powers as the High Court in respect of—
(a)the attendance and examination of witnesses (including the administration of oaths and affirmations and the examination of witnesses abroad), and
(b)the production of documents.
(3)No obligation to maintain secrecy or other restriction on the disclosure of information obtained by or supplied to persons in Her Majesty’s service, whether imposed by any enactment or by any rule of law, shall apply to the disclosure of information for the purposes of an investigation by the Welsh Administration Ombudsman.
(4)The Crown shall not be entitled in relation to any investigation by the Welsh Administration Ombudsman to any such privilege in respect of the production of documents or the giving of evidence as is allowed by law in legal proceedings.
(5)Subject to sub-paragraph (4), no person shall be compelled for the purposes of an investigation by the Welsh Administration Ombudsman to give any evidence or produce any document which he could not be compelled to give or produce in civil proceedings before the High Court.