{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/enterprise-act-2002/section-238",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/enterprise-act-2002/section-238.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2002/40",
  "legislation_title": "Enterprise Act 2002",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/enterprise-act-2002",
  "path": "section/238",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "238",
  "heading": "Information",
  "text": "(1) Information is specified information if it comes to a public authority in connection with the exercise of any function it has under or by virtue of—\n(a) Part 1, 3, 4, 6 or 7;\n(b) an enactment specified in Schedule 14;\n(c) such subordinate legislation as the Secretary of State may by order specify for the purposes of this subsection.\n(2) It is immaterial whether information comes to a public authority before or after the passing of this Act.\n(3) Public authority (except in the expression “overseas public authority”) must be construed in accordance with section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42).\n(4) In subsection (1) the reference to an enactment includes a reference to an enactment contained in—\n(a) an Act of the Scottish Parliament;\n(b) Northern Ireland legislation;\n(c) subordinate legislation.\n(5) The Secretary of State may by order amend Schedule 14.\n(6) The power to make an order under subsection (5) includes power to add, vary or remove a reference to any provision of—\n(a) an Act of the Scottish Parliament;\n(b) Northern Ireland legislation.\n(7) An order under this section must be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.\n(8) This section applies for the purposes of this Part.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 238(1)(a) substituted (6.4.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 18 para. 5 (with Sch. 19); S.I. 2025/272, reg. 2(1)(9)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/40/section/238",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T17:09:23.548614+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
    "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
  }
}