16.—(1) Before exercising the power under section 4(1)(a) or 9(1)(c) to order a collection officer to make an application for deduction from benefits, the court must inquire into the debtor’s means; and for that purpose the court may require the debtor to provide—
(a)his or her full name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number, and
(b)details of any relevant benefit which the debtor receives.
(2) A person commits an offence if the person fails, without reasonable excuse, to provide information required under subsection (1).
(3) A person commits an offence if, in providing information in response to a requirement under subsection (1), the person—
(a)provides information which the person knows to be false in a material particular,
(b)recklessly provides information which is false in a material particular, or
(c)knowingly fails to disclose a material fact.