Obtaining of information9

1

The Treasury may, by notice in writing given to any person to whom this article applies, require that person to—

a

furnish any information in his possession or control and specified in the notice, or

b

produce any documents in his possession or control and specified in the notice,

which the Treasury may require for the purpose of ensuring compliance with, or detecting evasion of, this Order.

2

Any person to whom such a requirement is given shall comply with it within such time, in such manner and at such place as may be specified in the notice.

3

A notice under paragraph (1) may be given by post, and shall be deemed to have been given to a person if it is sent to him at his last-known address.

4

Nothing in this article shall require any person who has acted as advocate for any person to produce or disclose any privileged communication or document in his possession in that capacity.

5

The furnishing of any information or the production of any document under this article shall not be treated as a breach of any restriction imposed by statute or otherwise.

6

The power conferred by this article to require any person to produce documents shall include power to take copies of or extracts from any document so produced and to require that person or, where that person is a body corporate, any other person who is a present or past officer of, or is employed by, the body corporate, to provide an explanation of any such document.

7

Any person who—

a

without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails to comply with any requirement under paragraph (1);

b

intentionally furnishes false information or a false explanation in purported compliance with a requirement under paragraph (1); or

c

with intent to evade the provisions of this article, destroys, mutilates, defaces, secretes or removes any document,

is guilty of an offence.

8

Where a person is convicted of an offence under this article of failing to furnish any information or produce any document, the court may make an order requiring him, within such period as may be specified in the order, to furnish the information or produce the document.