31AV. (1) The Office as part of its review or examination may request from a planning authority or the Board access to such information, records or documents relating to the performance by the planning authority or the Board of its functions.

(2) Where the Office conducts a review or examination, the planning authority or the Board shall co-operate and comply with any request of the Office in relation to all or any of the matters which are the subject of the review or examination.

(3) It is the duty of each member of a planning authority or the Board, and each member of its staff, to co-operate with the Office.

(4) A public body may, for the purposes of a review or examination under section 31AS, 31AT or 31AU, disclose information, records or documents (including personal data within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016³) in its possession to the Office relating to matters that are the subject of that review or examination.

(5) In this section—

"company" has the meaning assigned to it by the Companies Act 2014;

"public body" means—

(a) a Department of State,

(b) the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General,

(c) the Office of the Ombudsman,

(d) a local authority (within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1941),

(e) a body (other than a company) established by or under statute,

(f) a company established pursuant to a power conferred by or under an enactment, and financed wholly or partly by—

(i) moneys provided, or loans made or guaranteed, by a Minister of the Government, or

(ii) the issue of shares held by or on behalf of a Minister of the Government,

or

(g) a company, a majority of the shares in which are held by or on behalf of a Minister of the Government.]