7(1)Section 158 of the [1993 c. 48.] Pension Schemes Act 1993 (disclosure of information between government departments) is amended as follows.
(2)After subsection (1) there is inserted—
“(1A)No obligation as to secrecy imposed by statute or otherwise on persons employed in relation to the Inland Revenue shall prevent information obtained or held for the purposes of Part III of this Act from being disclosed—
(a)to the Secretary of State,
(b)to the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland, or
(c)to an officer of either of them authorised to receive such information,
in connection with the operation of this Act or of any corresponding enactment of Northern Ireland legislation.”
(3)In subsection (5), for “Subsections (1) to (3)” there is substituted “Subsections (1) and (1A)”.
(4)In subsection (6)—
(a)after “subsection (1)” there is inserted “or (1A)”, and
(b)after paragraph (c) there is inserted “or
(ca)for the purposes of Part II of the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 or any corresponding provisions of Northern Ireland legislation.”