{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/population-statistics-act-1938/section-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/population-statistics-act-1938/section-4.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/Geo6/1-2/12",
  "legislation_title": "Population (Statistics) Act 1938",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/population-statistics-act-1938",
  "path": "section/4",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": "Penalties.",
  "text": "(1) If any person—\n(a) refuses or neglects to furnish in accordance with this Act any information which he is required by this Act to furnish; or\n(b) in furnishing any such information makes any statement which, to his knowledge, is false in a material particular;\nhe shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.\n(2) Subject to any other enactmentNo information obtained by virtue of this Act with respect to any particular person shall be disclosed except so far as may be necessary—\n(a) for the performance by any person of his functions under this Act in connection with the furnishing, collection or collation of such information; or\n(b) for the performance by theStatistics Board or Registrar-General of its or his functions under section five of the Census Act 1920;\nand if any person discloses any such information in contravention of this subsection, he shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds, or to both such imprisonment and such fine, or, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or to both such imprisonment and such fine:\nProvided that nothing in this subsection shall apply to any disclosure of information made for the purposes of any proceedings which may be taken in respect of an offence under this section, or for the purposes of any report of such proceedings.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(1) substituted (E.W.) by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c.48, SIF 39:1), s. 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c.21, SIF 39:1), s. 289G"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(2) inserted (1.4.2008) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18), s. 74(1), Sch. 2 para. 2; S.I. 2008/839, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(2)(b) inserted (1.4.2008) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18), s. 74(1), Sch. 1 para. 8(a); S.I. 2008/839, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(2)(b) substituted (1.4.2008) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18), s. 74(1), Sch. 1 para. 8(b); S.I. 2008/839, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M1",
      "text": "1920 c. 41."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo6/1-2/12/section/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T11:33:51.900707+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "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."
}