1Disclosure of information

(1)The Secretary of State and the Northern Ireland department may, at the request of a relevant person, supply a relevant person with social security information for use (by the person to whom it is supplied or by another relevant person) in connection with switchover help functions.

(2)The Secretary of State may, at the request of a relevant person, supply a relevant person with war pensions information for use (by the person to whom it is supplied or by another relevant person) in connection with switchover help functions.

(3)A local authority or, in Northern Ireland, a Health and Social Services Board may, at the request of a relevant person, supply a relevant person with visual impairment information for use (by the person to whom it is supplied or by another relevant person) in connection with switchover help functions.

(4)In this Act “relevant person” means—

(a)the BBC;

(b)any company in respect of which any one or more of the following—

(i)the BBC,

(ii)the Secretary of State, or

(iii)a nominee of the BBC or the Secretary of State,

hold at least 51% of the issued ordinary share capital or possess at least 51% of the voting rights;

(c)any person who is engaged by the BBC, the Secretary of State or any company falling within paragraph (b) to provide any service connected with switchover help functions, to carry out a switchover help function or to carry out any function connected with switchover help functions.

(5)In this Act “switchover help functions” means—

(a)the identification of persons who may be eligible for help under a switchover help scheme;

(b)making contact with such persons with a view to the provision of such help; and

(c)the establishment of any person’s entitlement to such help.