(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about the sharing of information relating to supported exempt accommodation.
(2)Regulations under subsection (1) may make provision requiring or authorising a person within subsection (3) to provide information specified in the regulations to another person within that subsection.
(3)The persons are—
(a)a local housing authority in England;
(b)a registered provider of social housing in England;
(c)the Regulator of Social Housing;
(d)the Secretary of State.
(4)Regulations under subsection (1) must provide that information obtained by virtue of the regulations may be used only for a purpose connected with the exercise of a function under or by virtue of this Act, or otherwise relating to supported exempt accommodation.
(5)Regulations under subsection (1) may provide that information obtained by a local housing authority by virtue of the regulations may be provided to a person who supplies services to the authority for a purpose mentioned in subsection (4).
(6)Regulations under subsection (1) may not impose or confer a duty or power requiring or authorising the provision or use of information where the provision or use would (taking the duty or power into account) contravene the data protection legislation.
(7)A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (1) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(1)A local housing authority in England may use any information to which this section applies—
(a)for any purpose connected with the exercise of any of the authority’s functions under or by virtue of this Act, or otherwise relating to specified exempt accommodation, or
(b)for the purpose of investigating whether any offence has been committed by virtue of this Act.
(2)This section applies to any information which has been obtained by the authority in the exercise of functions under—
(a)section 134 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (housing benefit), or
(b)Part 1 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (council tax).
(3)This section does not authorise the use of information if the use would (taking the powers conferred by this section into account) contravene the data protection legislation.