27The following section shall be inserted after section 20B of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987—
(1)Subsection (2) below applies where—
(a)the Secretary of State serves a notice on the registration officer requiring him to supply to the Secretary of State information specified in the notice;
(b)the information is in the possession or control of the registration officer and was obtained by him for the purpose of carrying out his functions under this Act; and
(c)the information is not personal information.
(2)The registration officer shall supply the information required, and shall do so in such form and manner and at such time as the Secretary of State specifies in the notice.
(3)Regulations under this section may include provision that the registration officer may—
(a)supply relevant information to any person who requests it;
(b)charge a prescribed fee for supplying the information.
(4)Information is relevant information if—
(a)it was obtained by the registration officer for the purpose of carrying out his functions under this Act; and
(b)it is not personal information.
(5)Personal information is information which relates to an individual (living or dead) who can be identified from that information or from that and other information supplied to any person by the registration officer; and personal information includes any expression of opinion about the individual and any indication of the intentions of any person in respect of the individual.”