§ 49. Cooperation and assistance of other agencies. The office of welfare inspector general may request from any department, board, bureau, commission or other agency of the state and its political subdivisions, and the same are authorized and directed to provide, such cooperation and assistance, services and data as will enable the office properly to carry out its functions, powers and duties. As an incident to rendering such cooperation and assistance, all governmental agencies shall be required to submit a written response to the office of welfare inspector general respecting its reports and findings when so requested by said office. § 136 of the social services law shall in no way be construed to restrict any person or governmental body from cooperating and assisting the welfare inspector general hereunder. § 697 of the tax law shall in no way be construed to restrict the office of welfare inspector general from obtaining the name, address, social security number, employment history and number of dependents claimed for any individual certified by the welfare inspector general, or his designee, to be a welfare recipient and suspected of abusing, defrauding or otherwise violating the welfare system.