Section 21 Provision of information to the Office for Budget ResponsibilityI1

The Scotland Act 1998 is amended as follows.

After section 96 (provision of information to the Treasury) insert—

“Provision of information to the Office for Budget Responsibility

96A

(1)

The Office for Budget Responsibility has a right of access at any reasonable time to all Scottish public finances information which it may reasonably require for the purpose of the performance of its duty under section 4 of the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011 (duty to examine and report on the sustainability of the public finances).

(2)

The Office is entitled to require from any person holding or accountable for any Scottish public finances information any assistance or explanation which the Office reasonably thinks necessary for that purpose.

(3)

“Scottish public finances information” means information held by the Scottish Ministers or by any Scottish public authority specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(4)

This section is subject to any enactment or rule of law which operates to prohibit or restrict the disclosure of information or the giving of any assistance or explanation.”

In Schedule 7 (procedure for subordinate legislation), in paragraph 1(2) insert at the appropriate place—

“

Section 96A

Type C

”