The Petroleum (Production) (Seaward Areas) Regulations 1988

Reports to be treated as condidential

34.  All records, returns, plans, maps, samples, accounts and information (in this clause referred to as “the specified data”) which the Licensee is or may be from time to time required to furnish under the provisions of this licence shall be supplied at the expense of the Licensee and shall not (except with the consent in writing of the Licensee which shall not be unreasonably withheld) be disclosed to any person not in the service or employment of the Crown:

Provided that–

(i) the Minister shall be entitled at any time to make use of any of the specified data for the purpose of preparing and publishing such returns and reports as may be required of the Minister by law;

(ii) the Minister shall be entitled at any time to furnish any of the specified data to the Natural Environment Research Council and to any other body of a like nature as may from time to time be carrying on activities of a substantially similar kind to the geological activities at present carried on by the said Council;

(iii) the Minister, the said Council and any such other body shall be entitled at any time to prepare and publish reports and surveys of a general nature using information derived from any of the specified data;

(iv) the Minister, the said Council and any such other body shall be entitled to publish any of the specified data of a geological, scientific or technical kind after the expiration of the period of five years beginning with the date when the Ministger received the data or after the expiration of such longer period as the Minister may determine after considering any representations made to him by the Licensee about the publication of data in pursuance of this sub-paragraph.