(1)Subject to this section, a Northern Ireland department may by regulations make provision for the purpose of authorising the Board to disclose information to a Northern Ireland public authority where the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law or an Act passed before this Act.
(2)Regulations under subsection (1) may only authorise disclosure for the purposes of any or all of the statistical functions of the Northern Ireland public authority.
(3)A Northern Ireland public authority may only use information received under regulations under subsection (1) for the purposes for which disclosure is authorised under subsection (2).
(4)In the application of section 39 to personal information which has been disclosed to a Northern Ireland public authority under regulations under subsection (1), paragraphs (c) and (i) of subsection (4) of that section do not apply (subject to any provision made under subsection (6)(b) below).
(5)Regulations under subsection (1) may—
(a)amend or modify any enactment;
(b)contain consequential and supplementary provision.
(6)The consequential and supplementary provision referred to in subsection (5)(b) includes in particular—
(a)provision prohibiting or restricting further disclosure by a Northern Ireland public authority of information disclosed under the regulations;
(b)provision authorising further disclosure by a Northern Ireland public authority of such information in circumstances where the disclosure would otherwise be prohibited by a rule of law, this Act, an Act passed before this Act or any Northern Ireland legislation passed or made before this Act.
(7)A Northern Ireland department may only make regulations under subsection (1) with the consent of the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
(8)A Northern Ireland department may only make regulations under subsection (1) authorising any disclosure if the department and the Minister for the Cabinet Office are satisfied that—
(a)the disclosure is required by the Northern Ireland public authority for the purposes specified in the regulations, and
(b)the disclosure is in the public interest.
Commencement Information
I1S. 53 in force at 1.12.2007 by S.I. 2007/3388, art. 2(g)