(1)Nothing in section 17 of the [1982 c. 32.] Local Government Finance Act 1982 or section 79 of the [1985 c. 51.] Local Government Act 1985 (public inspection of accounts etc.) or in section 101 or 106 of the [1973 c. 65.] Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (which makes corresponding provision for Scotland) shall entitle any person—
(a)to inspect so much of any document as contains personal information about a member of the relevant body’s staff; or
(b)to require any such information to be disclosed in answer to any question.
(2)Information shall be regarded as personal information about a member of the relevant body’s staff if it relates specifically to a particular individual and is available to that body for reasons connected with the fact—
(a)that that individual holds or has held any office or employment under that body; or
(b)that payments or other benefits in respect of any office or employment under any other person are or have been made or provided to that individual by that body.
(3)In this section—
“document” includes accounts, books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts; and
“relevant body” in relation to accounts which are required to be audited in accordance with Part III of the said Act of 1982 or Part VII of the said Act of 1973, means the body whose accounts are required to be audited or, as the case may be, the Common Council of the City of London;
and references in this section to a payment made or benefit provided to an individual in respect of any office or employment include references to a payment made or benefit provided to him in respect of his ceasing to hold the office or employment.
(4)This section shall have effect only in relation to—
(a)the inspection of, or of documents relating to, accounts for periods beginning on or after 1st April 1990; and
(b)the disclosure of information in answer to questions about such accounts.