Agriculture Act 1970

Supplementary provisions as to Eggs Authority

19 Powers of Ministers with respect to Authority

The Ministers, after consultation with the Authority, may give to the Authority such directions of a general character with respect to the performance of any functions of the Authority as appear to the Ministers to be requisite in the public interest; and it shall be the duty of the Authority to comply with any such directions.

20 Reports and accounts of Authority

(1) As soon as may be—

(a) after the end of the period beginning with the constitution of the Authority and ending with 27th March 1971; and

(b) after the end of each accounting period,

the Authority shall prepare and submit to the Ministers a report on the discharge of their functions under this Part of this Act during that period- and the Ministers shall lay a copy of the report before each House of Parliament; and that report shall set out any direction given by the Ministers to the Authority under section 19 of this Act during that period.

(2) The Authority shall keep proper accounts and shall prepare in respect of each such period as is referred to in subsection (1) of this section statements of account in such form as the Ministers, with the approval of the Treasury, may direct; and the accounts of the Authority for each such period shall be audited by auditors appointed for the purpose by the Authority ; and no person shall be so appointed who is not either a member, or a firm all the persons wherein are members, of one or more of the following bodies, namely—

• The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales;

• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland ;

• The Association of Certified and Corporate Accountants;

• The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland ;

• Any other body of accountants established in the United Kingdom for the time being recognised for the purposes of section 161(1)(a) of the [1948 c. 38.] Companies Act 1948 by the Board of Trade.

(3) As soon as may be after the accounts of the Authority for any such period have been audited, the auditors shall transmit to the Ministers copies of the statements of account together with their report thereon, and the Ministers shall lay a copy of the statements and report before each House of Parliament.

(4) Copies of reports and statements of account prepared by the Authority under this section shall be made available to the public at a reasonable price.

21 Disclosure of information

(1) The furnishing of returns or other information with respect to any particular undertaking, or the production of books or other records of the undertaking, shall not be required in pursuance of any powers conferred by or under the preceding provisions of this Part of this Act except to, or as the case may be, for examination of those books or records by, an independent member of the Authority or an authorised officer.

(2) Without prejudice to subsection (1) of this section, returns or other information furnished or obtained by any person in pursuance of a requirement made under a scheme for the time being in force under section 16 of this Act, and any other information with respect to any particular undertaking which has been obtained under or by virtue of this Part of this Act, shall not be disclosed except—

(a) with the consent of the person by whom the information was furnished; or

(b) to an independent member of the Authority or an authorised officer; or

(c) to one or more of the Ministers, or to an officer or servant appointed by, or by one or more of, the Ministers, or to a person exercising functions on behalf of the Ministers or one or more of them ; or

(d) in the form of a summary of similar returns or information furnished by or obtained from a number of persons, being a summary so framed as not to enable particulars relating to any one person or undertaking to be ascertained from it; or

(e) with a view to the institution of, or otherwise for the purposes of, any criminal proceedings pursuant to or arising out of this Part of this Act.

(3) Any person who discloses any information in contravention of this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £400 or on conviction on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.

22 Prosecution of offences

(1) No proceedings for an offence under the preceding provisions of this Part of this Act or against any scheme made thereunder shall be instituted in England or Wales except—

(a) by the Authority ; or

(b) by, or with the consent of, the Director of Public Prosecutions.

(2) No proceedings for such an offence as aforesaid shall be instituted in Northern Ireland except—

(a) by the Authority; or

(b) by, or with the consent of, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.