(1)Every pilotage authority shall deliver triennially or, if the Secretary of State so directs, at shorter intervals, to the Commission, in the form and at the time required by the Secretary of State, returns giving such particulars as the Secretary of State may by order prescribe with respect to pilotage in their district.
(2)Every pilotage authority shall in addition furnish annually to the Commission, at such time as the Secretary of State directs, a statement of their accounts in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State, duly audited, including a statement of the average gross and net earnings of pilots during the past year, and, where the authority administer a pilots' benefit fund, the separate accounts of that fund, including particulars of the investments if any.
(3)Every pilotage authority shall allow the Commission or any person appointed by the Commission for the purpose, to inspect any books or documents in the possession of that authority relating to any matter in respect of which a return is required to be delivered or a statement is required to be furnished under this section.
(4)If a pilotage authority refuse or fail without reasonable cause to deliver any return or furnish any statement to the Commission in accordance with this section, Her Majesty may by Order in Council suspend the pilotage authority for such time as Her Majesty may direct, and thereupon the Secretary of State shall by order direct that, in the meantime, the powers of the authority shall be exercised, and the duties of the authority shall be performed by such person as he may appoint for the purpose.
(5)It shall be the duty of the Commission to send to the Secretary of State and to publish in such manner as the Commission thinks fit, copies of the returns and statements received by the Commission under this section.
(6)It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to lay before Parliament copies of any document he receives in pursuance of subsection (5) above.