Unauthorised disclosure by officialsN.I.
4.—(1) In Schedule 4 to the Administration Act (persons who may commit an offence under section 117 of that Act), after the entry headed “Other public departments and offices” insert—
“The Housing Executive etc.N.I.
A member, officer or employee of the Housing Executive.
A person authorised to exercise any function of the Housing Executive relating to housing benefit or any employee of such a person.
A person authorised under section 128A(1) of this Act to consider and report to the Department on the administration of housing benefit.”.
(2) In section 117 of that Act (offence of unauthorised disclosure by certain persons of information relating to particular persons), in subsection (8) (persons employed in audit of expenditure)—
(a)after paragraph (g) insert—
“(ga)a Northern Ireland local government auditor;
(gb)a member of the Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England and Wales and any auditor appointed by that Commission;
(gc)a member of the Accounts Commission for Scotland and any auditor within the meaning of Part VII of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973;”
(b)after paragraph (h) insert—
“(ha)a member of the Local Commission for England;
(hb)a member of the Local Commission for Wales;
(hc)the Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland; and” , and
(c)in paragraph (i), for “referred to in paragraph (b), (c), (e) or (h) above” substitute “or Commissions referred to in paragraphs (b), (c), (e) and (gb) to (hc) above and any person assisting an auditor referred to in paragraph (ga), (gb) or (gc) above”.