(1)If and so far as it appears to the Secretary of State that the disclosure of any information will enable the Bank better to discharge its functions under this Act (but not otherwise).—
(a)information obtained by the Secretary of State under section 109 or section 110 of the [1967 c. 81.] Companies Act 1967 (inspection of companies' books and papers) may be disclosed to the Bank, notwithstanding the provision as to security of information contained in section 111 of that Act; and
(b)where the information is contained in a report made by inspectors appointed under section 164, section 165 or section 172 of the Companies Act 1948 (investigation of affairs or ownership of companies and certain other bodies corporate) the Secretary of State may furnish a copy of the report to the Bank.
(2)If and so far as it appears to the Department of Commerce for Northern Ireland that the disclosure of any information will enable the Bank better to discharge its functions under this Act (but not otherwise).—
(a)information obtained by the Department under Article 107 or Article 108 of the [S.I. 1978/1042 (N.I. 12).] Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (inspection of companies' books and papers) may be disclosed to the Bank, notwithstanding the provision as to security of information contained in Article 109 of that Order; and
(b)where the information is contained in a report made by inspectors under section 158, section 159 or section 165A of the [1960 c. 22 (N.I.).] Companies Act (Northern Ireland) 1960 (investigation of affairs or ownership of companies and certain other bodies corporate) the Department may furnish a copy of the report to the Bank.
(3)Subsection (1) of section 19 above does not apply to information which has been disclosed to the Bank by virtue of subsection (1) or subsection (2) above, but—
(a)except as provided by paragraph (b) below, nothing in this Act authorises any further disclosure of that information in contravention of section 111 of the [1967 c. 81.] Companies Act 1967 or, as the case may require, Article 109 of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1978; and
(b)with respect to that information the references in subsections (3) to (6) of section 19 above to subsection (1) of that section shall be construed as including a reference to the said section 111 or, as the case may require, Article 109.
(4)If information is disclosed to the Bank by the authorities which exercise, in a country or territory outside the United Kingdom, functions corresponding to those of the Bank under this Act.—
(a)subsection (1) of section 19 above applies to that information as it applies to information obtained under or for the purposes of this Act; but
(b)the references in subsections (4) to (6) of that section to the disclosure of information do not extend to the disclosure of that information.