Article 7 Access by new authorities to information held by existing authorities

The right conferred by this article shall be exercisable by a new authority against any existing authority.

Upon giving reasonable notice, a new authority (acting through any authorised officer) shall have the right at all reasonable times to inspect and take copies of recorded information (wherever held and in whatever form), or otherwise extract information therefrom, to which access is necessarily required for the proper discharge of its functions.

The existing authority against whom the right is exercised shall supply all such information and assistance as may reasonably be required in relation to the exercise of the right.

The duty imposed upon an existing authority, when a new authority exercises its right under this article, is in addition to, and without prejudice to, the duty imposed upon that authority by article 6 or any duty otherwise imposed.