31.— (1) A Committee may at any time discontinue an investigation under section 9 of a complaint referred or made to it under section 8 if it becomes of opinion that the complaint concerned is frivolous or vexatious.

(2) The Commission may at any time discontinue an investigation under section 23 of a complaint referred or made to it under section 22 (other than subsection (4) thereof) F86 [ or made to it under section 4 of the Act of 2001 ] if it becomes of opinion that the complaint concerned is frivolous or vexatious.

(3) If a Committee decides to discontinue an investigation under section 9 , or the Commission decides to discontinue an investigation under section 23 , it shall prepare and furnish to—

( a) the person who made the complaint concerned, and

( b) the person to whom it related,

a statement in writing of the reasons for its decision and, in the case of such a decision by a Committee, it shall, in addition, prepare and furnish such a statement to the Clerk.

(4) Section 11 shall apply with any necessary modifications in relation to a case where an investigation is discontinued under subsection (1) and section 26 shall apply with any necessary modifications in relation to a case where an investigation is discontinued under subsection (2).