Railways Act 2005

16 (1) Meetings of the RPC must be open to the public; but the public must be excluded during any item of business that is confidential for the purposes of this paragraph. E+W+S

(2) An item of business is confidential for the purposes of this paragraph where, if members of the public were to be present during that item, it is likely that information furnished in confidence to the RPC by—

(a) the Office of Rail Regulation, or

(b) the Secretary of State,

would be disclosed in breach of the obligation of confidence.

(3) An item of business is confidential for the purposes of this paragraph where the RPC has resolved that—

(a) because of the confidential nature of the item, or

(b) for other special reasons stated in the resolution,

it is desirable in the public interest that the public be excluded during that item.

(4) An item of business is confidential for the purposes of this paragraph where, if members of the public were to be present during that item, it is likely that—

(a) there would be disclosed to them a matter relating to the affairs of an individual or relating specifically to the affairs of a particular body (whether corporate or unincorporate); and

(b) public disclosure of the matter would or might, in the opinion of the RPC, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that individual or body.

(5) An item of business is confidential for the purposes of this paragraph where the circumstances—

(a) are specified for the purposes of this sub-paragraph in an order made by the Secretary of State; or

(b) are determined to be confidential for those purposes in accordance with an order so made.

(6) An order under sub-paragraph (5) is subject to the negative resolution procedure.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 5 para. 16 in force at 24.7.2005 by S.I. 2005/1909, art. 2, Sch.