Energy Act 2016

International agreements

75 International oil and gas agreements: information exchange

(1) This section applies where—

(a) there is a treaty or agreement in force between the government of the United Kingdom and the government of a territory outside the United Kingdom (“the overseas territory”) concerning cooperation in relation to oil and gas activities, and

(b) the treaty or agreement includes arrangements for the exchange of information between the two governments (“information exchange arrangements”).

(2) If it appears to the Secretary of State that adequate safeguards are in place, information held by the Secretary of State may be disclosed so far as the Secretary of State considers necessary for the purpose of giving effect to the treaty or agreement in question.

(3) If it appears to the OGA that adequate safeguards are in place, information held by the OGA may be disclosed so far as the OGA considers necessary for the purpose of giving effect to the treaty or agreement in question.

(4) For the purposes of this section adequate safeguards are in place if the information exchange arrangements and the law in force in the overseas territory are such as to ensure that information disclosed to the government of the overseas territory under this section may be disclosed by that government only—

(a) with the consent of the government of the United Kingdom, or

(b) so far as necessary for the purpose of preparing and publishing reports of a general nature.

(5) References in this section to the OGA are to the OGA acting as a representative of the government of the United Kingdom for the purposes of the agreement with the overseas territory.