(1)Subject to the following provisions of this section, no information with respect to any particular business which—
(a)has been obtained under or by virtue of the provisions of this Act [F1(except Part 6)]; and
(b)relates to the private affairs of any individual or to any particular business,
shall during the lifetime of that individual or so long as that business continues to be carried on, be disclosed without the consent of that individual or the person for the time being carrying on that business.
(2)Subsection (1) above does not apply to any disclosure of information which is made—
(a)for the purpose of facilitating the performance of any functions assigned F2. . . to the Secretary of State [F3or OFCOM by or under this Act (except functions assigned by or under Part 6)];
(b)for the purpose of facilitating the performance of any functions of any Minister, any Northern Ireland department, the head of any such department, [F4the Office of Fair Trading][F5, the Commission][F6; the Director General of Water Services][F7the Director General of Electricity Supply][F8the Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland][F9or the Director General of Gas for Northern Ireland][F10the Office of Rail Regulation][F11, OFCOM][F12, the Civil Aviation Authority] or a local weights and measures authority in Great Britain under any of the enactments [F13or subordinate legislation] specified in subsection (3) below;
[F14(bb)for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out by the Comptroller and Auditor General of any of his functions under any enactment;]
(c)in connection with the investigation of any criminal offence or for the purposes of any criminal proceedings;
(d)for the purpose of any civil proceedings brought under or by virtue of this Act or any of the enactments [F13or subordinate legislation] specified in subsection (3) below; or
(e)in pursuance of a Community obligation.
(3)The enactments [F15and subordinate legislation] referred to in subsection (2) above are—
(a)the Trade Descriptions Act 1968;
(b)the 1973 Act;
(c)the Consumer Credit Act 1974;
F16(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F16(e). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(f)the Estate Agents Act 1979; F17
(g)the 1980 Act.
[F18(h)the Consumer Protection Act 1987.]
[F19(i)the Consumer Protection (Northern Ireland) Order 1987.]
[F20(i)the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988]
[F21(j)the Water Act 1989.][F22, or the Water Act 2003]
[F23(k)the Electricity Act 1989.]
[F24(l)the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992.]
[F25(ll)The Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996;]
[F26(m)the Railways Act 1993]
[F27(n)the Competition Act 1998]
[F28(o)Part I of the Transport Act 2000.]
[F29(p)the Enterprise Act 2002]
[F30(q)the Communications Act 2003 (excluding the provisions of that Act which are enactments relating to the management of the radio spectrum within the meaning of that Act).]
(4)F31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(5)Any person who discloses any information in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable—
(a)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;
(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.
[F32(6)Information obtained by [F33OFCOM] in the exercise of functions which are exercisable concurrently with [F34the Office of Fair Trading] under Part I of the Competition Act 1998 is subject to [F35Part 9 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (Information)] and not to subsections (1) to (5) of this section.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 101(1)(a) inserted (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 otherwise) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406, 408, 411, Sch. 17 para. 72(2) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3(2) (as amended (8.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
F2Words in s. 101(2)(a) repealed (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 otherwise) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406, 408, 411, Sch. 17 para. 72(3)(a), Sch. 19(1) (with Sch. 18, Sch. 19(1) Note 1); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3(2) (as amended (8.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
F3Words in s. 101(2)(a) substituted (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 otherwise) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406, 408, 411, Sch. 17 para. 72(3)(b) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3(2) (as amended (8.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
F4Words in s. 101(2)(b) substituted (1.4.2003) by 2002 c. 40, ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 13(9)(a); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with transitional and transitory provisions in art. 3)
F5Words in s. 101(2)(b) inserted (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/506, art. 18(b)
F6Words inserted (E.W.) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 25 para. 68(2)(a), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58
F7Words inserted (E.W.S.) by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1)(3), Sch. 16 para. 29(3)(a), Sch. 17 paras. 33, 35(1)
F8Words in s. 101(2)(b) inserted (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/231 (N.I. 1), art. 95(1), Sch. 12 para. 29(a); S.R. 1992/117, art. 3(1)
F9Words in s. 101(2)(b) inserted (10.6.1996) by S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2), Sch. 6 (with Sch. 7 paras. 2, 3(2)); S.R. 1996/216, art. 2 (with arts. 3, 4)
F10Words in s. 101 substituted (5.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 16(5), 120(1), Sch. 2 para. 19(g); S.I. 2004/827, art. 4(g)
F11Words in s. 101(2)(b) inserted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406, 411, Sch. 17 para. 72(4) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art 3(1), Sch. 1 (subject to art. 3(3) and with art. 11)
F12Words in s. 101(2)(b) inserted (21.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/4050, art. 2, Sch. Pt. IV para. 17(a)
F13Words inserted by S.I. 1988/915, reg. 7(6)(f)(i) for the purpose mentioned therein
F14S. 101(2)(bb) inserted (1.7.1992) by Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (c. 43), s. 56(6), Sch. 1 para. 3(a); Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1992, art. 3, Sch. Pt. I.
F15Words inserted by S.I. 1988/915, reg. 7(6)(f)(ii) for the purpose mentioned therein
F16S. 101(3)(d)(e) repealed (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, s. 54(3), Sch. 10 Pt. IV para. 9(7)(a), Sch. 14 Pt. I (with s. 73); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch.
F18Paragraph (h) inserted by Consumer Protection Act 1987 (c. 43, SIF 109), ss. 41(2), 47(1)(2), 48, Sch. 4 para. 9(1)
F19Paragraph (i) inserted (1.3.1989) after para. (h) by S.I. 1987/2049 (N.I.20), arts. 1(5), 31(5), Sch. 3 para. 6
F20Words inserted (20.6.1988) by S.I. 1988/915, reg. 7(6)(f)(ii) for the purpose mentioned therein
F21Paragraph (j) inserted (E.W.) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 25 para. 68(2)(b), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58
F22Words in s. 101(3)(j) inserted (1.4.2004) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 101(1), 105(3), Sch. 7 para. 23(b); S.I. 2004/641 {art. 3(y)}, Sch. 2
F23Paragraph (k) inserted (E.W.S) by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1)(3), Sch. 16 para. 29(3)(b), Sch. 17 paras. 33, 35(1)
F24S. 101(3)(l) inserted (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/231 (N.I. 1), art. 95(1), Sch. 12 para. 29(b); S.R. 1992/117, art. 3 (1)
F25S. 101(3)(ll) inserted (10.6.1996) by S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2), art. 71(1), Sch. 6 (with Sch. 7 paras. 2, 3(2)); S.R. 1996/216, art. 2 (with arts. 3, 4)
F26S. 101(3)(m) inserted (6.1.1994) by 1993 c. 43, ss. 150(1)(o), 152(1), 154(2), Sch. 12 para. 13(2); S.I. 1993/3237, art. 2(2).
F27S. 101(3)(n) inserted (11.1.1999) by 1998 c. 41, s. 54(3), Sch. 10 Pt. IV para. 9(7)(b) (with s. 73); S.I. 1998/3166, art. 2, Sch.
F28S. 101(3)(o) inserted (21.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/4050, art. 2, Sch. Pt. IV para. 17(b)
F29S. 101(3)(p) inserted (1.4.2003) by 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, {Sch. 25 para. 13(9)(b)}; S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with transitional and transitory provisions in art. 3)
F30S. 101(3)(q) inserted (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 otherwise) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406, 408, 411, Sch. 17 para. 72(5) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3(2) (as amended (8.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with art. 11)
F31S. 101(4) repealed (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, otherwise prosp.) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406, 408, 411, Sch. 17 para. 72(6), Sch. 19(1) (with Sch. 18, Sch. 19(1) Note 1); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3(2) (as amended (8.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3)))
F32S. 101(6) inserted (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, s. 54(3), Sch. 10 Pt. IV para. 9(8) (with s. 73); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch.
F33Words in s. 101(6) substituted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406, 411, Sch. 17 para. 72(7) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (subject to art. 3(3) and with art. 11)
F34Words in s. 101(6) substituted (1.4.2003) by 2002 c. 40, ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 13(9)(c)(i); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)
F35Words in s. 101(6) substituted (20.6.2003) by 2002 c. 40, ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 13(9)(c)(ii); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch. (with art. 8)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 101 restricted (31.10.2003) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 115, 120(1); S.I. 2003/2681, art. 2(b)
C2S. 101(2): disclosure powers extended (14.12.2001) by 2001 c. 24, s. 17, Sch. 4 Pt. I para. 23