Agriculture Act 1993

7 Information

(1) The authority to which an application under section 2, 5 or 6 above is made may by notice require any person to supply to it such information as may be specified in the notice, being information the supply of which the authority considers necessary or desirable for the purpose of enabling it to carry out its functions in relation to the application.

(2) A notice under subsection (1) above shall require the information to be supplied within such period as may be specified in the notice, being not less than 21 days from the date of the notice.

(3) Where the authority to which an application under section 2, 5 or 6 above is made gives a notice under subsection (1) above to the applicant, the applicant shall be treated as having withdrawn the application unless—

(a) it complies with the notice, or

(b) before the end of the period allowed for compliance, it shows to the satisfaction of the authority that it has reasonable grounds for not complying with it.

(4) Where—

(a) the authority to which an application under section 2, 5 or 6 above is made gives a notice under subsection (1) above to the applicant,

(b) the applicant purports to comply with the notice, and

(c) it becomes apparent to the authority after the time allowed for compliance with the notice and before the application has been finally determined that the applicant has not in fact complied with it,

the authority shall give the applicant notice of that fact.

(5) Where, within 14 days of the date of a notice under subsection (4) above, the person to whom the notice is given shows to the satisfaction of the authority by which it is given that the failure to comply with the notice under subsection (1) above was accidental and not attributable to a failure to take reasonable care, subsection (3) above shall be treated as never having had any application in relation to it.

(6) If any person other than the applicant under section 2, 5 or 6 above fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a notice under subsection (1) above, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(7) If any person, in purported compliance with a notice under subsection (1) above, knowingly or recklessly supplies information which is false or misleading in a material respect, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(8) Where an application under section 2, 5 or 6 above is made to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State, the powers conferred by this section shall be exercisable by those ministers acting jointly.