Coal industry Act 1994

6 Directions to the Authority by the Secretary of State

(1) It shall be the duty of the Authority to comply with such directions of a general character as may be given to it by the Secretary of State with respect to the carrying out of any of its functions, or to its activities generally.

(2) It shall be the duty of the Authority to comply with such specific directions as may be given to it by the Secretary of State with respect to—

(a) whether or not it exercises any of its powers and the manner in which any of its powers is to be exercised;

(b) the manner in which any of its duties is to be performed; or

(c) any other conduct by the Authority in connection with the carrying out of any of its functions or with its activities generally.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of the preceding provisions of this section, directions under this section may be given, in relation to any information which is in the possession of or available to the Authority, requiring the Authority to do one or both of the following, that is to say—

(a) publish it in such manner as may be described in the direction;

(b) furnish it, together with such explanations as he may reasonably require, to the Secretary of State.

(4) A direction under this section shall not authorise the publication of any information if, apart from the direction, the publication of that information would be in contravention of arrangements for the time being in force for the purposes of section 59 below.

(5) The power to give a direction under this section shall be exercisable, except in an emergency, only after consultation with the Authority.