15Information notices(1)

The OEGW may serve an information notice on a public authority.

(2)

An information notice is a notice requiring the public authority to give the OEGW information that it reasonably requires for the purposes of exercising its functions.

(3)

An information notice must specify—

(a)

the information, or the nature of the information, that is to be given,

(b)

the purposes for which the information is required,

(c)

how the information is to be given, and

(d)

the period within which the information is to be given.

(4)

The period specified for the purposes of subsection (3)(d) must be at least 2 months beginning with the day the notice is served.

(5)

The OEGW may, by giving notice to the public authority on whom an information notice was served—

(a)

withdraw the information notice;

(b)

vary the information notice (including by extending the period within which the information is required to be given).

(6)

Subsection (7) applies where a public authority makes a representation to the OEGW about an information notice before the end of the period within which the information is required to be given.

(7)

In working out the date by which the public authority is required to give the information to the OEGW, the time the OEGW takes to consider the representation does not count as part of the period within which the information is required to be given.

(8)

For the purposes of subsection (7), the time the OEGW takes to consider the representation begins with the day the representation is made and ends with the day—

(a)

the OEGW gives notice to the public authority under subsection (5) that the information notice is being withdrawn or varied in response to the representation, or

(b)

the OEGW gives notice to the public authority that it is not withdrawing or varying the information notice in response to the representation.