Building Societies Act 1986

15 (1) At any time when a building society has had its authorisation revoked under section 43 and the society has not been re-authorised under section 44, a member of the society shall have the right to obtain, from the register kept under paragraph 13 above, the names and addresses of members of the society, for the purpose of communicating with them on a subject relating to the affairs of the society.

(2) If, at any time not falling within sub-paragraph (1) above, a member of a building society makes a written application to the Commission for the right to obtain names and addresses from the register, the Commission, if satisfied that the applicant requires that right for the purpose of communicating with members of the society on a subject relating to its affairs, and having regard to the interests of the members as a whole and to all the other circumstances, may direct that the applicant shall have the right to obtain from the register the names and addresses of the members for the purpose of communicating with them on such a subject.

(3) Any direction under sub-paragraph (2) above may be given subject to such limitations or conditions as the Commission may think fit.

(4) Before giving a direction under sub-paragraph (2) above, the Commission shall give particulars of the application to the building society and shall afford the society an opportunity of making representations with respect to the application; and the Commission shall, if the applicant or the society so requests, afford to the applicant and to the society an opportunity of being heard by it.

(5) A member entitled under this paragraph to obtain the names of members of a building society may apply in writing to the society, describing in the application the subject on which he proposes to communicate with other members of the society; and the society shall give him all necessary information as to the place or places where the register, or part of it, is kept, and reasonable facilities for inspecting the register and taking a copy of any names and addresses in the register.

(6) A building society shall not be obliged to disclose to a member making an application under this paragraph any particulars contained in the register other than the names of the members and their addresses, and may construct the register in such a way that it is possible to disclose the names and addresses to inspection without disclosing any such other particulars.