Obtaining of information from persons and authorities
19.—(1) For the purposes of the discharge of its functions under this Order, the Department may, by notice in writing served on an enforcing authority, require the authority to furnish such information about the discharge of its functions as an enforcing authority under this Order as the Department may require.
(2) For the purposes of the discharge of their respective functions under this Order, the following authorities, that is to say—
(a)the Department,
(b)a district council, and
(c)the chief inspector,
may, by notice in writing served on any person, require that person to furnish to the authority such information which the authority reasonably considers that it needs as is specified in the notice, in such form and within such period following service of the notice, or at such time, as is so specified.
(3) For the purposes of this Article the discharge by the Department of an obligation of the United Kingdom under the Community Treaties or any international agreement relating to environmental protection shall be treated as a function of the Department under this Order.