19 February 2016
This section gives a power to Ministers and the Secretary of State to prevent the NIPSO disclosing information where it is not in the public interest to do so. It also requires the Secretary of State and the NIPSO to agree a memorandum of understanding concerning the exercise of their functions in relation to this section. This memorandum of understanding could make it easier for the NIPSO and Secretary of State to liaise in advance over material which it would not be in the public interest to disclose. The NIPSO must lay a copy of the agreed memorandum, and any revisions to it, in the Assembly.