The Secretaries of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for Science, Innovation and Technology, for Business and Trade, and for Culture, Media and Sport and the Transfer of Functions (National Security and Investment Act 2021 etc) Order 2023

18.—(1) The Digital Economy Act 2017 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 35 (disclosure of information to improve public service delivery), after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) Where in Schedule 4 functions are mentioned in relation to a specified person, the reference in subsection (1) to the person’s functions is limited to the person’s functions as mentioned in Schedule 4.”

(3) In section 48 (disclosure of information to reduce debt owed to the public sector), after subsection (4) insert—

“(4A) Where in Schedule 7 functions are mentioned in relation to a specified person, the reference in subsection (1) to the person’s functions is limited to the person’s functions as mentioned in Schedule 7.”

(4) In section 56 (disclosure of information to combat fraud against the public sector), after subsection (5) insert—

“(5A) Where in Schedule 8 functions are mentioned in relation to a specified person, the reference in subsection (1) to the person’s functions is limited to the person’s functions as mentioned in Schedule 8.”

(5) In Part 1 of Schedule 4 (public service delivery: specified persons for the purposes of section 35; UK and English bodies)—

(a) in paragraph 6, for “Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy” substitute “Business and Trade, in relation to the Secretary of State’s relevant business functions”;

(b) in paragraph 9, for “Digital, Culture, Media and Sport” substitute “Culture, Media and Sport”;

(c) after paragraph 9 insert—

“9A.   The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

9B.   The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.”;

(d) at the end insert—

“28A.   In this Part of this Schedule—

“relevant business function” has the meaning given in article 11(3) of the 2023 Transfer of Functions Order;

“the 2023 Transfer of Functions Order” means the Secretaries of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for Science, Innovation and Technology, for Business and Trade, and for Culture, Media and Sport and the Transfer of Functions (National Security and Investment Act 2021 etc) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/424).”

(6) In Part 1 of Schedule 5 (public service delivery: specified persons for the purposes of sections 36 and 37; UK and English bodies), in paragraph 1, for “Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy” substitute “Energy Security and Net Zero”.

(7) In Part 1 of Schedule 7 (specified persons for the purposes of the debt provisions; UK and English bodies)—

(a) in paragraph 5, for “Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy” substitute “Business and Trade, in relation to the Secretary of State’s relevant business functions”;

(b) after paragraph 5 insert—

“5A.   The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

5B.   The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, in relation to the Secretary of State’s relevant SIT functions.”;

(c) at the end insert—

“17A.   In this Part of this Schedule—

“relevant business function” has the meaning given in article 11(3) of the 2023 Transfer of Functions Order;

“relevant SIT function” has the meaning given in article 9(4) of the 2023 Transfer of Functions Order;

“the 2023 Transfer of Functions Order” means the Secretaries of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for Science, Innovation and Technology, for Business and Trade, and for Culture, Media and Sport and the Transfer of Functions (National Security and Investment Act 2021 etc) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/424).”

(8) In Part 1 of Schedule 8 (specified persons for the purposes of the fraud provisions)—

(a) in paragraph 6, for “Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy” substitute “Business and Trade, in relation to the Secretary of State’s relevant business functions”;

(b) in paragraph 12, for “Digital, Culture, Media and Sport” substitute “Culture, Media and Sport”;

(c) after paragraph 12 insert—

“12A.   The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

12B.   The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.”;

(d) at the end insert—

“41A.   In this Part of this Schedule—

“relevant business function” has the meaning given in article 11(3) of the 2023 Transfer of Functions Order;

“the 2023 Transfer of Functions Order” means the Secretaries of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for Science, Innovation and Technology, for Business and Trade, and for Culture, Media and Sport and the Transfer of Functions (National Security and Investment Act 2021 etc) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/424).”