The Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2015

Restriction on use of documents open to public inspection, or of information contained in them

5.—(1) This paragraph applies to any person who has obtained access to a copy of the documents open to public inspection or information contained in them by any means.

(2) No person to whom this paragraph applies may—

(a) supply a copy of the documents open to public inspection or any part of those documents;

(b) disclose any information contained in those documents (that is not contained in the edited register); or

(c) make use of any such information,

other than for a permitted purpose construed in accordance with sub-paragraphs (3) and (4).

(3) Where a person obtains copies of the information in the marked register or lists in accordance with paragraph 2(1) or inspects information in accordance with paragraph 3(1), the “permitted purpose” means either—

(a) research purposes within the meaning of that term in section 33 of the Data Protection Act 1998; or

(b) electoral purposes.

(4) Where a copy of any information was supplied in the circumstances to which paragraph 3(9)(b) applies, the “permitted purpose” means either—

(a) the prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of the criminal law (whether in Scotland or elsewhere); or

(b) the vetting of a relevant person for the purpose of safeguarding national security.