Financial Services and Markets Act 2000

349 Exceptions from section 348. U.K.

(1) Section 348 does not prevent a disclosure of confidential information which is—

(a) made for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out of a public function; and

(b) permitted by regulations made by the Treasury under this section.

(2) The regulations may, in particular, make provision permitting the disclosure of confidential information or of confidential information of a prescribed kind—

(a) by prescribed recipients, or recipients of a prescribed description, to any person for the purpose of enabling or assisting the recipient to discharge prescribed public functions;

(b) by prescribed recipients, or recipients of a prescribed description, to prescribed persons, or persons of prescribed descriptions, for the purpose of enabling or assisting those persons to discharge prescribed public functions;

(c) by the [F1 FCA or the PRA] to the Treasury or the Secretary of State for any purpose;

(d) by any recipient if the disclosure is with a view to or in connection with prescribed proceedings.

(3) The regulations may also include provision—

(a) making any permission to disclose confidential information subject to conditions (which may relate to the obtaining of consents or any other matter);

(b) restricting the uses to which confidential information disclosed under the regulations may be put.

[F2 (3A) Section 348 does not apply to—

(a) the disclosure by [F3 the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers] of confidential information disclosed to it by the [F4 FCA or the PRA] in reliance on subsection (1);

(b) the disclosure of such information by a person obtaining it directly or indirectly from [F5 the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers].

F6 (3B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

(4) In relation to confidential information, each of the following is a “recipient”—

(a) a primary recipient;

(b) a person obtaining the information directly or indirectly from a primary recipient.

(5) “Public functions” includes—

(a) functions conferred by or in accordance with any provision contained in any enactment or subordinate legislation;

F7 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) similar functions [F8 to those referred to in paragraph (a)] conferred on persons by or under provisions having effect as part of the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom;

(d) functions exercisable in relation to prescribed disciplinary proceedings.

(6) “Enactment” includes—

(a) an Act of the Scottish Parliament;

(b) Northern Ireland legislation.

(7) “Subordinate legislation” has the meaning given in the M1 Interpretation Act 1978 and also includes an instrument made under an Act of the Scottish Parliament or under Northern Ireland legislation.

(8) F9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 349(2)(c) substituted (1.4.2013) by Financial Services Act 2012 (c. 21), s. 122(3), Sch. 12 para. 19(2) (with Sch. 20); S.I. 2013/423, art. 3, Sch.

F2 S. 349(3A)(3B) inserted (6.4.2007) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), ss. 964(4), 1300(2); S.I. 2007/1093, art. 2(1)(b) (with arts. 4, 11)

F3 Words in s. 349(3A)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Public Record, Disclosure of Information and Co-operation (Financial Services) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/681), regs. 1(3), 2(3)(a)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F4 Words in s. 349(3A)(a) substituted (1.4.2013) by Financial Services Act 2012 (c. 21), s. 122(3), Sch. 12 para. 19(3) (with Sch. 20); S.I. 2013/423, art. 3, Sch.

F5 Words in s. 349(3A)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Public Record, Disclosure of Information and Co-operation (Financial Services) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/681), regs. 1(3), 2(3)(a)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F6 S. 349(3B) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Public Record, Disclosure of Information and Co-operation (Financial Services) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/681), regs. 1(3), 2(3)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F7 S. 349(5)(b) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Public Record, Disclosure of Information and Co-operation (Financial Services) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/681), regs. 1(3), 2(3)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F8 Words in s. 349(5)(c) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Public Record, Disclosure of Information and Co-operation (Financial Services) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/681), regs. 1(3), 2(3)(d); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F9 S. 349(8) repealed (6.4.2007) by The Companies Act 2006 (Commencement No. 2, Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1093), art. 7, Sch. 5 (with arts. 4, 11) (as amended by S.I. 2008/2860, art. 6)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 349 extended (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3648, arts. 1, 3(2), 4, 5(2), 7(2)

S. 349 modified (17.8.2001 for certain purposes otherwise 1.12.2001) by 1986 c. 53, s. 53A as substituted (17.8.2001 for certain purposes otherwise 1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 8, 13(1), Sch. 3 Pt. II para. 152; S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

S. 349 modified (17.8.2001 for certain purposes otherwise 1.12.2001) by 1992 c. 40 (as substituted (17.8.2001 for certain purposes otherwise 1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2, 8, 13(1), Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 78; S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

C2 S. 349 applied (20.4.2003) by The Insurers (Reorganisation and Winding Up) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1102), regs. 16(2), 50(3) (with reg. 3)

C3 S. 349 modified (20.4.2003) by The Insurers (Reorganisation and Winding Up) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1102), reg. 50(4) (with reg. 3)

C4 S. 349 applied (18.2.2004) by The Insurers (Reorganisation and Winding Up) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/353), reg. 16(2)(3) (with reg. 3)

C5 S. 349 applied (with modifications) (18.2.2004) by The Insurers (Reorganisation and Winding Up) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/353), reg. 50(3)-(6) (with reg. 3)

C6 S. 349 applied (with modifications) (5.5.2004) by The Credit Institutions (Reorganisation and Winding up) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1045), regs. 18, 38

C7 S. 349 applied (6.3.2008) by The Regulated Covered Bonds Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/346), reg. 43

C8 S. 349 applied (with modifications) (2.3.2009) by The Payment Services Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/209), regs. 1(2)(a), 95, Sch. 5 para. 5 (with reg. 3) (as amended (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 155(6)(e) (with Sch. 2 para. 156))

C9 S. 349 applied (with modifications) (11.2.2010) by The Cross-Border Payments in Euro Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/89), reg. 19, Sch. para. 4

C10 S. 349 applied (with modifications) (9.2.2011 for certain purposes and 30.4.2011 otherwise) by The Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/99), regs. 1(2)(a)(xiv)(b), 62, Sch. 3 para. 6 (with reg. 3) (as amended (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 196(5)(f))

C11 S. 349 applied (with modifications) (15.1.2013) by The Payments in Euro (Credit Transfers and Direct Debits) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/3122), reg. 1, Sch. para. 4 (as amended (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 248(6)(i)(m))

C12 S. 349 applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (9.7.2013) by The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Referral Fees) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1635), regs. 1, 11(1)

C13 S. 349 applied (with modifications) (12.12.2014) by The Immigration Act 2014 (Bank Accounts) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/3085), regs. 1, 12

C14 S. 349 applied (with modifications) by 2009 c. 1, s. 89L (as inserted (1.1.2015) by The Bank Recovery and Resolution Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3329), arts. 1(2), 103)

C15 S. 349 applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2004/1045, reg. 18(5) (as inserted (10.1.2015) by The Bank Recovery and Resolution (No. 2) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3348), art. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 10(5)(c))

C16 S. 349 applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2004/1045, reg. 38(8) (as added (10.1.2015) by The Bank Recovery and Resolution (No. 2) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3348), art. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 10(5)(c))

C17 S. 349 applied (20.4.2015 for specified purposes, 21.12.2015 for specified purposes, 21.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by The Mortgage Credit Directive Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/910), arts. 1(5), 18(3) (with Pt. 4)

C18 Ss. 348, 349 applied (with modifications) (1.1.2016) by The Small and Medium Sized Business (Credit Information) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1945), regs. 1(2), 25(1)

C19 Ss. 348, 349 applied (with modifications) (1.1.2016) by The Small and Medium Sized Business (Finance Platforms) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1946), regs. 1(2), 22(1)

C20 S. 349 applied (with modifications) (18.9.2016) by The Payment Accounts Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/2038), reg. 1(2)(b), Sch. 7 para. 3

C21 S. 349 applied (with modifications) (29.6.2017 for specified purposes, 3.7.2017 for specified purposes, 31.7.2017 for specified purposes, 3.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/701), reg. 1(2)(3)(4)(6), Sch. 1 para. 20 (with reg. 7)

C22 S. 349 applied (with modifications) (3.7.2017 for specified purposes, 3.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by The Data Reporting Services Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/699), regs. 1(2)(a)(b), 35

C23 S. 349 applied (with modifications) (13.10.2017) by The Payment Services Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/752), reg. 1(3)(c), Sch. 6 para. 8 (with reg. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/681, regs. 1(3), 9(3)(a))

C24 Ss. 348, 349 applied (with modifications) (1.1.2018) by The Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1127), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 4

C25 S. 349 applied (with modifications) (27.2.2018) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Benchmarks) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/135), regs. 1(2), 21

C26 Ss. 348-350 applied (14.11.2018) by The Central Counterparties (Amendment, etc., and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1184), regs. 1(3), 22

C27 S. 349 applied (with modifications) (1.1.2019) by The Securitisation Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1288), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 5 (with Sch. 1 paras. 13, 14)

C28 Ss. 348-350 applied (12.3.2019) by The Equivalence Determinations for Financial Services and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/541), regs. 1(3), 5

C29 S. 349 applied (with modifications) (10.6.2019) by The Proxy Advisors (Shareholders Rights) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/926), regs. 1, 20, 24

C30 Ss. 348-350 applied (with modifications) (30.9.2020) by The Equivalence Determinations for Financial Services (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1055), regs. 1(2), 6(1)-(3)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 349 wholly in force at 18.6.2001; s. 349 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 431(2); s. 349 in force for certain purposes at 25.2.2001 by S.I. 2001/516, art. 2(b), Sch. Pt. 2; s. 349 in force in so far as not already in force at 18.6.2001 by S.I. 2001/1820, art. 2, Sch.

Marginal Citations

M1 1978 c. 30.