(1)Subject to the following provisions of this section, no information with respect to any particular business which—
(a)has been obtained under or by virtue of the provisions of this Act; and
(b)relates to the private affairs of any individual or to any particular business,
shall during the lifetime of that individual or so long as that business continues to be carried on, be disclosed without the consent of that individual or the person for the time being carrying on that business.
(2)Subsection (1) above does not apply to any disclosure of information which is made—
(a)for the purpose of facilitating the performance of any functions assigned or transferred to the Secretary of State, the Director or the Commission by or under this Act;
(b)for the purpose of facilitating the performance of any functions of any Minister, any Northern Ireland department, the head of any such department, the Director General of Fair Trading [F1, the Commission][F2;the Director General of Water Services][F3the Director General of Electricity Supply][F4the Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland][F5or the Director General of Gas for Northern Ireland][F6the Rail Regulator] or a local weights and measures authority in Great Britain under any of the enactments [F7or subordinate legislation] specified in subsection (3) below;
[F8(bb) for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out by the Comptroller and Auditor General of any of his functions under any enactment;]
(c)in connection with the investigation of any criminal offence or for the purposes of any criminal proceedings;
(d)for the purpose of any civil proceedings brought under or by virtue of this Act or any of the enactments [F7or subordinate legislation] specified in subsection (3) below; or
(e)in pursuance of a Community obligation.
(3)The enactments [F9and subordinate legislation] referred to in subsection (2) above are—
(a)the Trade Descriptions Act 1968;
(b)the 1973 Act;
(c)the Consumer Credit Act 1974;
(d)the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976;
(e)the Resale Prices Act 1976;
(f)the Estate Agents Act 1979; F10
(g)the 1980 Act.
[F11(h)the Consumer Protection Act 1987.]
[F12(i)the Consumer Protection (Northern Ireland) Order 1987.]
[F13(i)the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988]
[F14(j)the Water Act 1989.]
[F15(k)the Electricity Act 1989.]
[F16(l)the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992.]
[F17(11)The Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996;]
[F18F19(m)the Railways Act 1993]
[F18(n)the Competition Act 1998]
(4)Nothing in subsection (1) above shall be construed—
(a)as limiting the matters which may be published under section [F2027C or] 48 above or may be included in, or made public as part of, a report of the Director or of the Commission under this Act; or
(b)as applying to any information which has been so published or has been made public as part of such a report.
(5)Any person who discloses any information in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable—
(a)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;
(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in S. 101(2)(b) inserted (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/506, art. 18(b)
F2Words inserted (E.W.) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 25 para. 68(2)(a), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58
F3Words inserted (E.W.S.) by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1)(3), Sch. 16 para. 29(3)(a), Sch. 17 paras. 33, 35(1)
F4Words in s. 101(2)(b) inserted (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/231 (N.I. 1), art. 95(1), Sch. 12 para. 29(a); S.R. 1992/117, art. 3(1)
F5Words in s. 101(2)(b) inserted (10.6.1996) by S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2), Sch. 6 (with Sch. 7 paras. 2, 3(2)); S.R. 1996/216, art. 2 (with arts. 3, 4)
F6Words in s. 101(2)(b) inserted (6.1.1994) by 1993 c. 43, ss. 150(1)(o), 152(1), Sch. 12 para. 13(1); S.I. 1993/3237, art. 2(2).
F7Words inserted by S.I. 1988/915, reg. 7(6)(f)(i) for the purpose mentioned therein
F8S. 101(2)(bb) inserted (1.7.1992) by Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (c. 43), s. 56(6), Sch. 1 para. 3(a); Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1992, art. 3, Sch. Pt. I.
F9Words inserted by S.I. 1988/915, reg. 7(6)(f)(ii) for the purpose mentioned therein
F11Paragraph (h) inserted by Consumer Protection Act 1987 (c. 43, SIF 109), ss. 41(2), 47(1)(2), 48, Sch. 4 para. 9(1)
F12Paragraph (i) inserted (1.3.1989) after para. (h) by S.I. 1987/2049 (N.I.20), arts. 1(5), 31(5), Sch. 3 para. 6
F13Words inserted (20.6.1988) by S.I. 1988/915, reg. 7(6)(f)(ii) for the purpose mentioned therein
F14Paragraph (j) inserted (E.W.) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 25 para. 68(2)(b), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58
F15Paragraph (k) inserted (E.W.S) by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1)(3), Sch. 16 para. 29(3)(b), Sch. 17 paras. 33, 35(1)
F16S. 101(3)(l) inserted (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/231 (N.I. 1), art. 95(1), Sch. 12 para. 29(b); S.R. 1992/117, art. 3 (1)
F17S. 101(3)(ll) inserted (10.6.1996) by S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2), art. 71(1), Sch. 6 (with Sch. 7 paras. 2, 3(2)); S.R. 1996/216, art. 2 (with arts. 3, 4)
F18S. 101(3)(n) inserted (11.1.1999) by 1998 c. 41, s. 54(3), Sch. 10 Pt. IV para. 9(7)(b)(with s. 73); S.I. 1998/3166, art. 2, Sch.
F19S. 101(3)(m) inserted (6.1.1994) by 1993 c. 43, ss. 150(1)(o), 152(1), 154(2), Sch. 12 para. 13(2); S.I. 1993/3237, art. 2(2).
F20Words in s. 101(4)(a) inserted (1.7.1992) by Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (c. 43), s. 56(6), Sch. 1 para. 3 (b); Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1992, art. 3, Sch. Pt. I.