Utilities Act 2000

18 Acquisition and review of information

(1) The Council has the function of obtaining and keeping under review—

(a) information about consumer matters, including matters affecting consumers in different areas of Great Britain; and

(b) information about the views of consumers on such matters, including the views of consumers in different areas.

(2) As part of the arrangements it makes for carrying out that function, the Council—

(a) shall establish one or more committees of the Council for, or for areas within, Wales and Scotland; and

(b) may establish one or more committees of the Council for, or for areas within, England.

(3) The purposes of a committee established under subsection (2) (in this Act referred to as a “regional committee”) shall be—

(a) the provision of advice and information to the Council on consumer matters affecting the area for which the committee is established; and

(b) such other purposes as the Council may determine.

(4) The Council shall maintain in each of England, Wales and Scotland at least one office at which consumers may apply for information.

(5) After section 41H of the 1986 Act (which is inserted by section 88 below) there is inserted—

“41I Service by Authority of certain notices on Council

Where the Authority is required by any provision of this Part to publish a notice or any other document, the Authority shall send a copy of the document to the Council.”

(6) Before section 57 of the 1989 Act (restriction on disclosure of information) there is inserted—

“56G Service by Authority of certain notices on Council

Where the Authority is required by any provision of this Part to publish a notice or any other document, the Authority shall send a copy of the document to the Council.”

(7) Paragraphs 10 to 14 of Schedule 2 have effect in relation to regional committees.