(1)The Secretary of State shall, at the request of a local housing authority, provide the authority with such information as they may require—
(a)as to whether a person is or has become an asylum-seeker, or a dependant of an asylum-seeker, and
(b)to enable them to determine whether such a person is eligible for assistance under this Part under section 185 (persons from abroad not eligible for housing assistance).
(2)Where that information is given otherwise than in writing, the Secretary of State shall confirm it in writing if a written request is made to him by the authority.
(3)If it appears to the Secretary of State that any application, decision or other change of circumstances has affected the status of a person about whom information was previously provided by him to a local housing authority under this section, he shall inform the authority in writing of that fact, the reason for it and the date on which the previous information became inaccurate.