396Research and collection of information: London Research Centre etc
(1)The Authority—
(a)may carry out, or assist in carrying out, investigations into, or the collection of information relating to, any matters concerning Greater London or any part of it; and
(b)may make, or assist in making, arrangements whereby any such information is, or the results of any such investigation are, made available to any government department, any local authority in Greater London, any other body or person, or the public.
(2)The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring the Authority to carry out, or assist in carrying out, under subsection (1)(a) above investigations into, or the collection of information relating to, such matters as may be specified in the regulations or matters of such a description as may be so specified.
(3)Regulations under subsection (2) above may make provision requiring the Authority to make, or assist in making, arrangements whereby any such information is, or the results of any such investigation are, made available to—
(a)government departments;
(b)bodies or persons specified, or of a description specified, in the regulations; or
(c)the public.
(4)The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring the Authority to make, or assist in making, arrangements whereby information falling within subsection (5) below which is in the possession of the Authority is made available to any of the bodies and persons mentioned in subsection (3)(a) to (c) above.
(5)The information which falls within this subsection is—
(a)information collected, or the result of any investigation carried out, by the Authority under subsection (1)(a) above, and
(b)information collected, or the result of any investigation carried out, other than by the Authority which has been transferred to the Authority by virtue of an order under section 408 below or a scheme under section 409 below.
(6)Any functions conferred or imposed on the Authority by or under this section shall be exercisable by the Mayor acting on behalf of the Authority.
(7)Subsection (6) above does not apply in relation to any function expressly conferred or imposed on the Assembly by regulations under subsection (2) above.
(8)The Mayor shall from time to time, and at least once in every year, consult each London borough council and the Common council about the exercise of the Authority’s functions under subsection (1) above.
(9)Before making any regulations under subsection (2) above, the Secretary of State shall consult the Mayor, the Assembly, every London borough council and the Common Council.
(10)Any scheme made for Greater London under subsection (1) of section 88 of the [1985 c. 51.] Local Government Act 1985 (research and collection of information) is revoked by this subsection.
(11)In that section—
(a)in subsection (1), the words “Greater London or”, and
(b)subsection (12)(a),
shall cease to have effect.
(12)After subsection (13) of that section (power of London borough councils etc to exercise functions described in subsection (1)(a) and (b) of that section) there shall be inserted—
“(13A)In the application of subsection (13) above in relation to a London borough council or the Common Council, paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) above shall have effect with the substitution of “Greater London” for “that area”.”