1. The Secretary of State may use an electronic communication in connection with claims for, and awards of, any benefit.
2.—(1) A person other than the Secretary of State may use an electronic communication in connection with the matters referred to in paragraph 1 if the conditions specified in sub-paragraphs (2) to (5) are satisfied.
(2) The first condition is that the person is for the time being permitted to use an electronic communication for the purpose in question by an authorisation given by means of a direction of the Secretary of State.
(3) The second condition is that the person uses an approved method of—
(a)authenticating the identity of the sender of the communication where required to do so;
(b)electronic communication;
(c)authenticating any claim or information delivered by means of an electronic communication; and
(d)subject to sub-paragraph (6), submitting any claim or information to the Secretary of State.
(4) The third condition is that any claim or information sent by means of an electronic communication is in an approved form.
(5) The fourth condition is that the person maintains such records as may be specified in a direction given by the Secretary of State.
(6) Where the person uses any method other than the method approved by the Secretary of State of submitting any claim or information, it is to be treated as not having been submitted.
(7) In this paragraph “approved” means approved by means of a direction given by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Schedule.
3. The Secretary of State may use intermediaries in connection with—
(a)the delivery of any claim or information by means of an electronic communication; and
(b)the authentication or security of anything transmitted by such means,
and may require other persons to use intermediaries in connection with those matters.