Competition Act 1998

56 Director and Secretary of State to have regard to certain matters in relation to the disclosure of information. U.K.

(1) This section applies if the Secretary of State or the Director is considering whether to disclose any information acquired by him under, or as a result of, any provision of this Part.

(2) He must have regard to the need for excluding, so far as is practicable, information the disclosure of which would in his opinion be contrary to the public interest.

(3) He must also have regard to—

(a) the need for excluding, so far as is practicable—

(i) commercial information the disclosure of which would, or might, in his opinion, significantly harm the legitimate business interests of the undertaking to which it relates, or

(ii) information relating to the private affairs of an individual the disclosure of which would, or might, in his opinion, significantly harm his interests; and

(b) the extent to which the disclosure is necessary for the purposes for which the Secretary of State or the Director is proposing to make the disclosure.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 56 applied (with modifications) (1.3.2000) by S.I. 2000/261, Rule 14(8)

C2 S. 56 applied (N.I.) (temp) (28.2.2003) by The Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/419), art. 1(3), Sch. 4 para. 18(2)