8Preliminary inquiries

8 Preliminary inquiries (1) Where a complaint has been made to the ombudsman with respect to action taken by an agency, or it appears to the ombudsman that the ombudsman may under section 5 (1) (b) investigate action so taken, the ombudsman may, for the purpose of— (a) determining whether or not the ombudsman is authorised to investigate the action; or (b) if the ombudsman is authorised to investigate the action— determining whether or not the ombudsman may, in his or her discretion, decide not to investigate the action; make inquiries of the principal officer of the agency or, if an arrangement with the principal officer of the agency is in force under subsection (2), of such officers as are referred to in the arrangement.

(2) The ombudsman may from time to time make an arrangement with the principal officer of an agency with respect to the officers of whom all inquiries, or particular inquiries, are to be made by the ombudsman under subsection (1) with respect to action taken by the agency.