- Y Diweddaraf sydd Ar Gael (Diwygiedig)
- Pwynt Penodol mewn Amser (01/04/2005)
- Gwreiddiol (Fel y'i Deddfwyd)
Version Superseded: 01/04/2008
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(1)In this and the two following subsections—
(a)“relevant information” means information obtained by a person under section 27(1) or furnished to any person [F1under section 27A above [F2, by virtue of section 43A(6) below]or] in pursuance of a requirement imposed by any of the relevant statutory provisions; and
(b)“the recipient”, in relation to any relevant information, means the person by whom that information was so obtained or to whom that information was so furnished, as the case may be.
(2)Subject to the following subsection, no relevant information shall be disclosed without the consent of the person by whom it was furnished.
(3)The preceding subsection shall not apply to—
(a)disclosure of information to the Commission, the Executive, [F3 the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency,] a government department or any enforcing authority;
(b)without prejudice to paragraph (a) above, disclosure by the recipient of information to any person for the purpose of any function conferred on the recipient by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions;
(c)without prejudice to paragraph (a) above, disclosure by the recipient of information to—
(i)an officer of a local authority who is authorised by that authority to receive it,
[F4(ii)an officer F5. . . of a water undertaker, sewerage undertaker, water authority or water development board who is authorised by that F6. . . undertaker, authority or board to receive it,]
F7(iii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(iv)a constable authorised by a chief officer of police to receive it;
(d)disclosure by the recipient of information in a form calculated to prevent it from being identified as relating to a particular person or case;
(e)disclosure of information for the purposes of any legal proceedings or any investigation or inquiry held by virtue of section 14(2), or for the purposes of a report of any such proceedings or inquiry or of a special report made by virtue of section 14(2).
[F8(f)any other disclosure of information by the recipient, if–
(i)the recipient is, or is acting on behalf of a person who is, a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and
(ii)the information is not held by the authority on behalf of another person.]
(4)In the preceding subsection any reference to the Commission, the Executive, [F9the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency,] a government department or an enforcing authority includes respectively a reference to an officer of that body or authority (including, in the case of an enforcing authority, any inspector appointed by it), and also, in the case of a reference to the Commission, includes a reference to—
(a)a person performing any functions of the Commission or the Executive on its behalf by virtue of section 13(1)(a);
(b)an officer of a body which is so performing any such functions; and
(c)an adviser appointed in pursuance of section 13(1)(d).
(5)A person to whom information is disclosed in pursuance of [F10any of paragraphs (a) to (e) of] subsection (3) above shall not use the information for a purpose other than—
(a)in a case falling within paragraph (a) of that subsection, a purpose of the Commission or of the Executive or [F11of the Environment Agency or of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency or]of the government department in question, or the purposes of the enforcing authority in question in connection with the relevant statutory provisions, as the case may be;
(b)in the case of information given to an officer of a [F12body which is a local authority, F13. . . a water undertaker, a sewerage undertaker, a water authority, a river purification board or a water development board, the purposes of the body] in connection with the relevant statutory provisions or any enactment whatsoever relating to public health, public safety or the protection of the environment;
(c)in the case of information given to a constable, the purposes of the police in connection with the relevant statutory provisions or any enactment whatsoever relating to public health, public safety or the safety of the State.
[F14(6)References in subsections (3) and (5) above to a local authority include . . . F15 a joint authority established by Part IV of the Local Government Act 1985 [F16and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority].]
(7)A person shall not disclose any information obtained by him as a result of the exercise of any power conferred by section 14(4)(a) or 20 (including, in particular, any information with respect to any trade secret obtained by him in any premises entered by him by virtue of any such power) except—
(a)for the purposes of his functions; or
(b)for the purposes of any legal proceedings or any investigation or inquiry held by virtue of section 14(2) or for the purposes of a report of any such proceedings or inquiry or of a special report made by virtue of section 14(2); or
(c)with the relevant consent.
In this subsection “the relevant consent” means, in the case of information furnished in pursuance of a requirement imposed under section 20, the consent of the person who furnished it, and, in any other case, the consent of a person having responsibilities in relation to the premises where the information was obtained.
(8)Notwithstanding anything in the preceding subsection an inspector shall, in circumstances in which it is necessary to do so for the purpose of assisting in keeping persons (or the representatives of persons) employed at any premises adequately informed about matters affecting their health, safety and welfare, give to such persons or their represenatives the following descriptions of information, that is to say—
(a)factual information obtained by him as mentioned in that subsection which relates to those premises or anything which was or is therein or was or is being done therein; and
(b)information with respect to any action which he has taken or proposes to take in or in connection with those premises in the performance of his functions;
and, where an inspector does as aforesaid, he shall give the like information to the employer of the first-mentioned persons.
[F17(9)Notwithstanding anything in subsection (7) above, a person who has obtained such information as is referred to in that subsection may furnish to a person who appears to him to be likely to be a party to any civil proceedings arising out of any accident, occurrence, situation or other matter, a written statement of relevant facts observed by him in the course of exercising any of the powers referred to in that subsection].
[F18(9A)Subsection (7) above does not apply if–
(a)the person who has obtained any such information as is referred to in that subsection is, or is acting on behalf of a person who is, a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and
(b)the information is not held by the authority on behalf of another person.]
[F19(10)The Broads Authority and every National Park authority shall be deemed to be local authorities for the purposes of this section.]
Extent Information
E2This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; separate versions have been created for Scotland only and for Northern Ireland (in so far as this provision extends there, see s. 84(1)).
Textual Amendments
F1Words inserted by Consumer Protection Act 1987 (c. 43, SIF 109:1), s. 36, Sch. 3 para. 5
F2Words in s. 28(1)(a) inserted (10.9.2003) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 105(2), 120
F3Words in s. 28(3)(a) inserted (E.W.S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 30(6)(a) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2
F4S. 28(3)(c)(ii) substituted by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), s. 190, Sch. 25 para. 46(a) (with ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58)
F5Words in s. 28(3)(c)(ii) repealed (E.W.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 30(6)(b)(i), Sch. 24 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2
F6Word in s. 28(3)(c)(ii) repealed (E.W.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 30(6)(b)(ii), Sch. 24 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2
F7S. 28(3)(c)(iii) repealed (E.W.S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 30(6)(d), Sch. 24 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2
F8S. 28(3)(f) inserted (1.1.2005) by The Freedom of Information (Removal and Relaxation of Statutory Prohibitions on Disclosure of Information) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3363), art. 5(2)
F9Words in s. 28(4) inserted (E.W.S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 30(6)(e) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2
F10Words in s. 28(5) inserted (1.1.2005) by The Freedom of Information (Removal and Relaxation of Statutory Prohibitions on Disclosure of Information) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3363), art. 5(3)
F11Words in s. 28(5)(a) inserted (E.W.S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 30(6)(f)(i) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2
F12Words substituted by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), s. 190, Sch. 25 para. 46(b) (with ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58)
F13Words in s. 28(5)(b) repealed (E.W.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 30(6)(f)(ii), Sch. 24 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2
F14S. 28(6) substituted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 84, Sch. 14 para. 52
F15Words repealed by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237(2), Sch. 13 Pt. I
F16Words in s. 28(6) added (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 328(8), Sch. 29 para. 23 (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/1094, art. 4
F17S. 28(9) inserted by Employment Protection Act 1975 (c. 71), Sch. 15 para. 9
F18S. 28(9A) inserted (1.1.2005) by The Freedom of Information (Removal and Relaxation of Statutory Prohibitions on Disclosure of Information) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3363), art. 5(4)
F19S. 28(10) substituted (E.W.) (23.11.1995) by 1995 c. 25, s. 78, Sch. 10 para. 12 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1995/2950, art. 2
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C20S. 28 applied by S.I. 1989/840, arts. 2-10
S. 28 excluded (with saving) (E.W.S.) (1.12.1997) by S.I. 1997/1840, regs. 7, 9
S. 28 extended (E.W.S.) (1.10.1996) by S.I. 1996/1513, reg. 10
S. 28: power to apply conferred (E.W.S.) (28.8.1995) by 1995 c. 15, ss. 2(4)(e), 5 (with s. 3(5))
S. 28 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (1.3.1996) by S.I. 1996/192, reg. 15, Sch. 14 para. 1(b)
S. 28 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (1.7.1997) by S.I. 1997/831, reg. 19(1)-(4), Sch. 15 para. 1(a)(b)
S. 28 restricted (15.11.2000) by S.I. 2000/2831, reg. 23(1)
C21S. 28 amended by S.I. 1982/1496, reg. 10(1)
S. 28 extended (5.7.1994) by 1994 c. 19, ss. 39, 66(2)(b), Sch. 13 para. 20(e) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2))
C22S. 28 amended by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 57(7), Sch. 13 para. 13(f)
C23S. 28 restricted (E.W.S.) (1.2.1993) by S.I. 1992/3217, reg. 15
S. 28 excluded (E.W.S.) (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/743, reg. 21(5).
C24S. 28 applied (with modifications) (1.1.1993) by S.I. 1992/3073, reg. 28, Sch. 6 para. 1(b)
C25S. 28 modified (6.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/711, regs. 1(2), 28(3)(b)(5)(a)
C26Ss. 1-59, 80-82 applied (11.7.2001) by S.I. 2001/2127, arts. 4(1), 5(1)(2), 6(1), 7(1), 8(1), 10 (with art. 11)
C27S. 28 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (22.3.2003 for certain purposes and 22.9.2003 otherwise) by S.I. 2003/403, regs. 1(2), 23(2)(e)(3)
C28S. 28 applied (E.W.S.) by S.I. 2005/928, art. 4(3)(b)
C29S. 28 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (the amendment coming into force in accordance with art. 1(1) of the amending S.I.) by The Channel Tunnel (Safety) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/3531), art. 4(2)(3)(g) (subject to (4)-(6)) (with art. 7)
C30S. 28(6) extended by S.I. 1985/1884, art. 10, Sch. 3 para. 4
s. 28 extended (31.1.1994) by S.I. 1993/3050, art. 18(1) (with art. 3).
C31S. 28(7): Disclosure powers extended (14.12.2001) by 2001 c. 24, s. 17, Sch. 4 Pt. 1 para. 12
(1)In this and the two following subsections—
(a)“relevant information” means information obtained by a person under section 27(1) or furnished to any person [F20under section 27A above [F2, by virtue of section 43A(6) below]or] in pursuance of a requirement imposed by any of the relevant statutory provisions; and
(b)“the recipient”, in relation to any relevant information, means the person by whom that information was so obtained or to whom that information was so furnished, as the case may be.
(2)Subject to the following subsection, no relevant information shall be disclosed without the consent of the person by whom it was furnished.
(3)The preceding subsection shall not apply to—
(a)disclosure of information to the Commission, the Executive, a government department or any enforcing authority;
(b)without prejudice to paragraph (a) above, disclosure by the recipient of information to any person for the purpose of any function conferred on the recipient by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions;
(c)without prejudice to paragraph (a) above, disclosure by the recipient of information to—
(i)an officer of a local authority who is authorised by that authority to receive it,
[F21(ii)an officer of the National Rivers Authority or of a water undertaker, sewerage undertaker, water authority or water development board who is authorised by that Authority, undertaker, authority or board to receive it,]
(iii)an officer of a river purification board who is authorised by that board to receive it, or
(iv)a constable authorised by a chief officer of police to receive it;
(d)disclosure by the recipient of information in a form calculated to prevent it from being identified as relating to a particular person or case;
(e)disclosure of information for the purposes of any legal proceedings or any investigation or inquiry held by virtue of section 14(2), or for the purposes of a report of any such proceedings or inquiry or of a special report made by virtue of section 14(2).
[F22(f)any other disclosure of information by the recipient, if–
(i)the recipient is, or is acting on behalf of a person who is, a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and
(ii)the information is not held by the authority on behalf of another person.]
(4)In the preceding subsection any reference to the Commission, the Executive, a government department or an enforcing authority includes respectively a reference to an officer of that body or authority (including, in the case of an enforcing authority, any inspector appointed by it), and also, in the case of a reference to the Commission, includes a reference to—
(a)a person performing any functions of the Commission or the Executive on its behalf by virtue of section 13(1)(a);
(b)an officer of a body which is so performing any such functions; and
(c)an adviser appointed in pursuance of section 13(1)(d).
(5)A person to whom information is disclosed in pursuance of [F23any of paragraphs (a) to (e) of] subsection (3) above shall not use the information for a purpose other than—
(a)in a case falling within paragraph (a) of that subsection, a purpose of the Commission or of the Executive or of the government department in question, or the purposes of the enforcing authority in question in connection with the relevant statutory provisions, as the case may be;
(b)in the case of information given to an officer of a [F24body which is a local authority, the National Rivers Authority, a water undertaker, a sewerage undertaker, a water authority, a river purification board or a water development board, the purposes of the body] in connection with the relevant statutory provisions or any enactment whatsoever relating to public health, public safety or the protection of the environment;
(c)in the case of information given to a constable, the purposes of the police in connection with the relevant statutory provisions or any enactment whatsoever relating to public health, public safety or the safety of the State.
[F25(6)References in subsections (3) and (5) above to a local authority include . . . F26 a joint authority established by Part IV of the Local Government Act 1985 [F27and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority].]
(7)A person shall not disclose any information obtained by him as a result of the exercise of any power conferred by section 14(4)(a) or 20 (including, in particular, any information with respect to any trade secret obtained by him in any premises entered by him by virtue of any such power) except—
(a)for the purposes of his functions; or
(b)for the purposes of any legal proceedings or any investigation or inquiry held by virtue of section 14(2) or for the purposes of a report of any such proceedings or inquiry or of a special report made by virtue of section 14(2); or
(c)with the relevant consent.
In this subsection “the relevant consent” means, in the case of information furnished in pursuance of a requirement imposed under section 20, the consent of the person who furnished it, and, in any other case, the consent of a person having responsibilities in relation to the premises where the information was obtained.
(8)Notwithstanding anything in the preceding subsection an inspector shall, in circumstances in which it is necessary to do so for the purpose of assisting in keeping persons (or the representatives of persons) employed at any premises adequately informed about matters affecting their health, safety and welfare, give to such persons or their represenatives the following descriptions of information, that is to say—
(a)factual information obtained by him as mentioned in that subsection which relates to those premises or anything which was or is therein or was or is being done therein; and
(b)information with respect to any action which he has taken or proposes to take in or in connection with those premises in the performance of his functions;
and, where an inspector does as aforesaid, he shall give the like information to the employer of the first-mentioned persons.
[F28(9)Notwithstanding anything in subsection (7) above, a person who has obtained such information as is referred to in that subsection may furnish to a person who appears to him to be likely to be a party to any civil proceedings arising out of any accident, occurrence, situation or other matter, a written statement of relevant facts observed by him in the course of exercising any of the powers referred to in that subsection].
[F29(9A)Subsection (7) above does not apply if–
(a)the person who has obtained any such information as is referred to in that subsection is, or is acting on behalf of a person who is, a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and
(b)the information is not held by the authority on behalf of another person.]
[F30(10)For the purposes of this section the Broads Authority shall be treated as a local authority.]
Extent Information
E3This version of this provision applies to Northern Ireland (in so far as this provision extends there, see s. 84(1)(a)); separate versions of this provision have been created for England and Wales only and Scotland only
Textual Amendments
F2Words in s. 28(1)(a) inserted (10.9.2003) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 105(2), 120
F20Words inserted by Consumer Protection Act 1987 (c. 43, SIF 109:1), s. 36, Sch. 3 para. 5
F21S. 28(3)(c)(ii) substituted by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), s. 190, Sch. 25 para. 46(a) (with ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58)
F22S. 28(3)(f) inserted (1.1.2005) by The Freedom of Information (Removal and Relaxation of Statutory Prohibitions on Disclosure of Information) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3363), art. 5(2)
F23Words in s. 28(5) inserted (1.1.2005) by The Freedom of Information (Removal and Relaxation of Statutory Prohibitions on Disclosure of Information) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3363), art. 5(3)
F24Words substituted by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), s. 190, Sch. 25 para. 46(b) (with ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4), (10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58)
F25S. 28(6) substituted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 84, Sch. 14 para. 52
F26Words repealed by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237(2), Sch. 13 Pt. I
F27Words in s. 28(6) added (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 328(8), Sch. 29 para. 23 (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/1094, art. 4
F28S. 28(9) inserted by Employment Protection Act 1975 (c. 71), Sch. 15 para. 9
F29S. 28(9A) inserted (1.1.2005) by The Freedom of Information (Removal and Relaxation of Statutory Prohibitions on Disclosure of Information) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3363), art. 5(4)
F30S. 28(10) added by Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988 (c. 4, SIF 81:1), s. 21, Sch. 6 para. 13
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C32Ss. 1, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 33, 34, 59, 80, 81 and 82 applied by S.I. 1989/840, arts. 2, 10
C33S. 28 amended by S.I. 1982/1496, reg. 10(1)
S. 28 extended (5.7.1994) by 1994 c. 19, ss. 39, 66(2)(b), Sch. 13 para. 20(e) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2))
S. 28 restricted (15.11.2000) by S.I. 2000/2831, reg. 23(1)
C34S. 28 amended by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 57(7), Sch. 13 para. 13(f)
C35Ss. 19-28 applied (with modifications) (1.1.1993) by S.I. 1992/3073, reg. 28, Sch. 6 para. 1(b)
C36Ss. 19-28 modified (6.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/711, regs. 1(2), 28(3)(b)(5)(a)
C37Ss. 1-59, 80-82 applied (11.7.2001) by S.I. 2001/2127, arts. 4(1), 5(1)(2), 6(1), 7(1), 8(1), 10 (with art. 11)
C38s. 28 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (22.4.2005) by S.I. 2005/928, reg. 4(2)-(4)
C39S. 28(6) extended by S.I. 1985/1884, art. 10, Sch. 3 para. 4(l)
s. 28 extended (31.1.1994) by S.I. 1993/3050, art. 18(1) (with art. 3).
C40S. 28(7): Disclosure powers extended (14.12.2001) by 2001 c. 24, s. 17, Sch. 4 Pt. 1 para. 12
(1)In this and the two following subsections—
(a)“relevant information” means information obtained by a person under section 27(1) or furnished to any person [F31under section 27A above [F2, by virtue of section 43A(6) below] or] in pursuance of a requirement imposed by any of the relevant statutory provisions; and
(b)“the recipient”, in relation to any relevant information, means the person by whom that information was so obtained or to whom that information was so furnished, as the case may be.
(2)Subject to the following subsection, no relevant information shall be disclosed without the consent of the person by whom it was furnished.
(3)The preceding subsection shall not apply to—
(a)disclosure of information to the Commission, the Executive, [F32the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency,] a government department or any enforcing authority;
(b)without prejudice to paragraph (a) above, disclosure by the recipient of information to any person for the purpose of any function conferred on the recipient by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions;
(c)without prejudice to paragraph (a) above, disclosure by the recipient of information to—
(i)an officer of a local authority who is authorised by that authority to receive it,
[F33(ii)an officer of a water undertaker, sewerage undertaker, [F34or Scottish Water] who is authorised by [F35that undertaker or, as the case may be, Scottish Water] to receive it;]
F36(iii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(iv)a constable authorised by a chief officer of police to receive it;
(d)disclosure by the recipient of information in a form calculated to prevent it from being identified as relating to a particular person or case;
(e)disclosure of information for the purposes of any legal proceedings or any investigation or inquiry held by virtue of section 14(2), or for the purposes of a report of any such proceedings or inquiry or of a special report made by virtue of section 14(2).
[F37(f)any other disclosure of information by the recipient, if–
(i)the recipient is, or is acting on behalf of a person who is, a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and
(ii)the information is not held by the authority on behalf of another person.]
(4)In the preceding subsection any reference to the Commission, the Executive, [F38the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency,] a government department or an enforcing authority includes respectively a reference to an officer of that body or authority (including, in the case of an enforcing authority, any inspector appointed by it), and also, in the case of a reference to the Commission, includes a reference to—
(a)a person performing any functions of the Commission or the Executive on its behalf by virtue of section 13(1)(a);
(b)an officer of a body which is so performing any such functions; and
(c)an adviser appointed in pursuance of section 13(1)(d).
(5)A person to whom information is disclosed in pursuance of [F39any of paragraphs (a) to (e) of] subsection (3) above shall not use the information for a purpose other than—
(a)in a case falling within paragraph (a) of that subsection, a purpose of the Commission or of the Executive or [F40 of the Environment Agency or of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency or] of the government department in question, or the purposes of the enforcing authority in question in connection with the relevant statutory provisions, as the case may be;
(b)[F41in the case of information given to an officer of a body which is a local authority, a water undertaker, [F42or a sewerage undertaker or to an officer of Scottish Water,] the purposes of the body [F43authority, undertaker or, as the case may be, Scottish Water] in connection] with the relevant statutory provisions or any enactment whatsoever relating to public health, public safety or the protection of the environment;
(c)in the case of information given to a constable, the purposes of the police in connection with the relevant statutory provisions or any enactment whatsoever relating to public health, public safety or the safety of the State.
[F44(6)References in subsections (3) and (5) above to a local authority include . . . F45 a joint authority established by Part IV of the Local Government Act 1985 [F46and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority].]
(7)A person shall not disclose any information obtained by him as a result of the exercise of any power conferred by section 14(4)(a) or 20 (including, in particular, any information with respect to any trade secret obtained by him in any premises entered by him by virtue of any such power) except—
(a)for the purposes of his functions; or
(b)for the purposes of any legal proceedings or any investigation or inquiry held by virtue of section 14(2) or for the purposes of a report of any such proceedings or inquiry or of a special report made by virtue of section 14(2); or
(c)with the relevant consent.
In this subsection “the relevant consent” means, in the case of information furnished in pursuance of a requirement imposed under section 20, the consent of the person who furnished it, and, in any other case, the consent of a person having responsibilities in relation to the premises where the information was obtained.
(8)Notwithstanding anything in the preceding subsection an inspector shall, in circumstances in which it is necessary to do so for the purpose of assisting in keeping persons (or the representatives of persons) employed at any premises adequately informed about matters affecting their health, safety and welfare, give to such persons or their represenatives the following descriptions of information, that is to say—
(a)factual information obtained by him as mentioned in that subsection which relates to those premises or anything which was or is therein or was or is being done therein; and
(b)information with respect to any action which he has taken or proposes to take in or in connection with those premises in the performance of his functions;
and, where an inspector does as aforesaid, he shall give the like information to the employer of the first-mentioned persons.
[F47(9)Notwithstanding anything in subsection (7) above, a person who has obtained such information as is referred to in that subsection may furnish to a person who appears to him to be likely to be a party to any civil proceedings arising out of any accident, occurrence, situation or other matter, a written statement of relevant facts observed by him in the course of exercising any of the powers referred to in that subsection].
[F48(9A)Subsection (7) above does not apply if–
(a)the person who has obtained any such information as is referred to in that subsection is, or is acting on behalf of a person who is, a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and
(b)the information is not held by the authority on behalf of another person.]
[F49(10)For the purposes of this section the Broads Authority shall be treated as a local authority.]
Extent Information
E4This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; separate versions of this provision have been created for England and Wales only and for Northern Ireland (in so far as this provision extends there, see s. 84(1))
Textual Amendments
F2Words in s. 28(1)(a) inserted (10.9.2003) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 105(2), 120
F31Words inserted by Consumer Protection Act 1987 (c. 43, SIF 109:1), s. 36, Sch. 3 para. 5
F32Words in s. 28(3)(a) inserted (E.W.S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 30(6)(a) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2
F33S. 28(3)(c)(ii) substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 30(6)(c) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2
F34Words in s. 28(3)(c)(ii) substituted (S.) (14.7.2004) by The Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1822) art. 2, {Sch. Pt. 1 para. 8(a)(i)}
F35Words in s. 28(3)(c)(ii) substituted (S.) (14.7.2004) by The Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1822), art. 2, Sch. para. 8(a)(ii)
F36S. 28(3)(c)(iii) repealed (E.W.S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 30(6)(d), Sch. 24 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2
F37S. 28(3)(f) inserted (1.1.2005) by The Freedom of Information (Removal and Relaxation of Statutory Prohibitions on Disclosure of Information) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3363), art. 5(2)
F38Words in s. 28(4) inserted (E.W.S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 30(6)(e) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2
F39Words in s. 28(5) inserted (1.1.2005) by The Freedom of Information (Removal and Relaxation of Statutory Prohibitions on Disclosure of Information) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3363), art. 5(3)
F40Words in s. 28(5)(a) inserted (E.W.S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 30(6)(f)(i) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2
F41Words in s. 28(5)(b) substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 30(6)(f)(iii) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2
F42Words in s. 28(5)(b) substituted (14.7.2004) by The Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/ 1822) art. 2, {Sch. Pt. 1 para. 8(b)(i)}
F43Words in s. 28(5)(b) inserted (14.7.2004) by The Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1822) art. 2, {Sch. Pt. 1 para. 8(b)(ii)}
F44S. 28(6) substituted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 84, Sch. 14 para. 52
F45Words repealed by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237(2), Sch. 13 Pt. I
F46Words in s. 28(6) added (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 328(8), Sch. 29 para. 23 (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/1094, art.4
F47S. 28(9) inserted by Employment Protection Act 1975 (c. 71), Sch. 15 para. 9
F48S. 28(9A) inserted (1.1.2005) by The Freedom of Information (Removal and Relaxation of Statutory Prohibitions on Disclosure of Information) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3363), art. 5(4)
F49S. 28(10) added by Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988 (c. 4, SIF 81:1), s. 21, Sch. 6 para. 13
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C41S. 28 applied by S.I. 1989/840, arts. 2-10
S. 28 excluded (with saving) (E.W.S.) (1.12.1997) by S.I. 1997/1840, regs. 7, 9
S. 28 extended (E.W.S.) (1.10.1996) by S.I. 1996/1513, reg. 10
S. 28: power to apply conferred (E.W.S.) (28.8.1995) by 1995 c. 15, ss. 2(4)(e), 5 (with s. 3(5))
S. 28 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (1.3.1996) by S.I. 1996/192, reg. 15, Sch. 14 para. 1(b)
S. 28 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (1.7.1997) by S.I. 1997/831, reg. 19(1)-(4), Sch. 15 para. 1(a)(b)
S. 28 restricted (15.11.2000) by S.I. 2000/2831, reg. 23(1)
C42S. 28 amended by S.I. 1982/1496, reg. 10(1)
S. 28 extended (5.7.1994) by 1994 c. 19, ss. 39, 66(2)(b), Sch. 13 para. 20(e) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2))
C43S. 28 restricted (E.W.S.) (1.2.1993) by S.I. 1992/3217, reg. 15
S. 28 excluded (E.W.S.) (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/743, reg. 21(5).
C44Ss. 19-28 applied (with modifications) (1.1.1993) by S.I. 1992/3073, reg. 28, Sch. 6 para. 1(b)
C45Ss. 19-28 modified (6.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/711, regs. 1(2), 28(3)(b)(5)(a)
C46Ss. 1-59, 80-82 applied (11.7.2001) by S.I. 2001/2127, arts. 4(1), 5(1)(2), 6(1), 7(1), 8(1), 10 (with art. 11)
C47S. 28 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (22.3.2003 for certain purposes and 22.9.2003 otherwise) by S.I. 2003/403, regs. 1(2), 23(2)(e)(3)
C48S. 28 applied (E.W.S.) by S.I. 2005/928, art. 4(3)(b)
C49S. 28 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (the amendment coming into force in accordance with art. 1(1) of the amending S.I.) by The Channel Tunnel (Safety) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/3531), art. 4(2)(3)(g) (subject to (4)-(6)) (with art. 7)
C50S. 28(6) extended by S.I. 1985/1884, art. 10, Sch. 3 para. 4(l)
s. 28 extended (31.1.1994) by S.I. 1993/3050, art. 18(1) (with art. 3).
C51S. 28(7): Disclosure powers extended (14.12.2001) by 2001 c. 24, s. 17, Sch. 4 Pt. 1 para. 12
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