Article 21C Disclosure of information by the DepartmentF1

(1)

The Department may disclose to a body or person to whom this Article applies any information received by it relating to a registered housing association—

(a)

for any purpose connected with the discharge of the functions of the Department in relation to such housing association, or

(b)

for the purpose of enabling or assisting that body or person to discharge any of its or his functions.

(2)

This Article applies to the following bodies and persons—

(a)

any government department (including a department of the Government of the United Kingdom);

(b)

any district council;

(c)

any constable; and

(d)

any other body or person discharging functions of a public nature (including a body or person discharging regulatory functions in relation to any description of activities).

(3)

Where any information disclosed to the Department under Article 21B is so disclosed subject to any express restriction on the further disclosure of the information, the Department's power of disclosure under this Article is exercisable subject to that restriction.

(4)

A person who discloses information in contravention of any such restriction commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(5)

Any information disclosed by the Department under this Article may be subject by the Department to any express restriction on the further disclosure of the information.

(6)

A person who discloses information in contravention of any such restriction commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(7)

Proceedings for an offence under paragraph (6) may be brought only by, or with the consent of, the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland or the Department.

(8)

Nothing in this Article shall be construed as affecting any power of disclosure exercisable apart from this Article.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Arts. 21-21C substituted (31.7.2010) for art. 21 by Housing (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 (c. 9), ss. 6, 19(1); S.R. 2010/251, art. 2

Notes on the whole Order

Textual amendments

F1: functions transf. by SR 1999/481