has been obtained by virtue of any of the provisions of this Act; and

relates to the affairs of any individual or to any particular business,

with the consent of the person by whom the information was furnished;

in connection with the execution of that Chapter;

for the purposes of any proceedings arising under that Chapter (including any appeal, application to the Secretary of State or the Director or an arbitration);

for the purposes of any criminal proceedings (whether or not so arising); or

for the purposes of any report of any proceedings falling within paragraph (c) or (d) above.

for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out by the Secretary of State, the Minister, F2the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Director F3, the Council , the F4Competition Commission or a county council or local authority of any of his, its or, as the case may be, their functions by virtue of this Act, any of the other consolidation Acts F5, M1the Water Act 1989, Part I or IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 F6, the M2Environment Act 1995F7, regulations under section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999, or the Water Act 2003;

for the purpose of facilitating the performance by a relevant undertaker of any of the duties imposed on it by or under this Act, any of the other consolidation Acts F8, the Water Act 1989 or the Water Act 2003F9or by a licensed water supplier of any of the duties imposed on it by or under this Act ;

in pursuance F10of any duty imposed by section 27H above or section 197(1)(a) or (2) or F11203(1), (1A), (2) or (2A) of the M3Water Resources Act 1991 (information about water flow and pollution);

for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out by any person mentioned in Part I of Schedule 15 to this Act of any of his functions under any of the enactments or instruments specified in Part II of that Schedule;

for the purpose of enabling or assisting the Secretary of State, the Treasury or the Financial Services Authority to exercise any powers conferred by or under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 or by the enactments relating to companies or insolvency;

for the purpose of enabling or assisting any inspector appointed under enactments relating to companies to carry out his functions;

for the purpose of enabling an official receiver to carry out his functions under the enactments relating to insolvency or for the purpose of enabling or assisting a recognised professional body for the purposes of section 391 of the M4Insolvency Act 1986 to carry out its functions as such;

for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out by the Health and Safety Commission or the Health and Safety Executive of any of its functions under any enactment or of facilitating the carrying out by any enforcing authority, within the meaning of Part I of the M5Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, of any functions under a relevant statutory provision, within the meaning of that Act;

for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out by the Comptroller and Auditor General of any of his functions under any enactment;

in connection with the investigation of any criminal offence or for the purposes of any criminal proceedings;

for the purposes of any civil proceedings brought under or by virtue of this Act, any of the other consolidation Acts, F13, the Water Act 2003 or any of the enactments or instruments specified in Part II of Schedule 15 to this Act, or of any arbitration under this Act, any of the other consolidation Acts F14, the Water Act 1989 or the Water Act 2003 ; or

in pursuance of a Community obligation.

as limiting the matters which may be published under section F1538A, 95A or 201 above or may be included in, or made public as part of, a report of F16the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Director, F17the Council (or any regional committee) or the F18Competition Commissionunder any provision of this Act F19, Part I or IIA of M6the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the M7Water Resources Act 1991F6, the M8Environment Act 1995 F20, regulations under section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999, or the Water Act 2003; or

as applying to any information which has been so published or has been made public as part of such a report or to any information exclusively of a statistical nature.

if the disclosure is of information relating to a matter connected with the carrying out of the functions of a relevant undertaker F21, or with the carrying on by a licensed water supplier of activities under its licence, and is made by one Minister of the Crown or government department to another; or

if the disclosure is for the purpose of enabling or assisting any public or other authority for the time being designated for the purposes of this section by an order made by the Secretary of State to discharge any functions which are specified in the order.

impose conditions subject to which the disclosure of information is permitted by virtue of that paragraph; and

otherwise restrict the circumstances in which disclosure is so permitted.

on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.