The Agriculture (Northern Ireland) Order 1993

Functions of the Department

13.—(1) The Department shall satisfy itself, in relation to an approved scheme—

(a)that so much of the scheme as relates to the period prior to the vesting day under the scheme is duly carried out; and

(b)that it does not, during that period, become expedient, by virtue of a change of circumstances, that there should be an increase in the provision made by the scheme for meeting liabilities retained by the Board after the transfer under Article 14.

(2) The Department may by notice require the Board to supply to it such information as may be specified in the notice, being information which the Department considers necessary or desirable for the purpose of enabling it to discharge its functions under paragraph (1).

(3) A notice under paragraph (2) shall require the information to be supplied within such period as may be specified in the notice, being not less than 7 days from the date of the notice.

(4) If, at any time before the vesting day under an approved scheme, it appears to the Department—

(a)that the Board has—

(i)failed to supply information required by a notice under paragraph (2); or

(ii)failed in a material respect to carry out the scheme; or

(b)that, by virtue of a change of circumstances, it is expedient that there should be such an increase as is mentioned in paragraph (1)(b),

it may give the Board notice of that fact and of the reasons for it.

(5) No notice under paragraph (4) may be given by virtue of sub-paragraph (a)(i) of that paragraph more than 28 days after the Board has purported to comply with the notice under paragraph (2).

(6) The Department shall by notice to the Board withdraw a notice under paragraph (4) if it is satisfied—

(a)that there is no longer any ground for it; and

(b)that it continues to be practicable for the scheme to be carried out.

(7) If the Board, in purported compliance with a notice under paragraph (2), knowingly or recklessly supplies information which is false or misleading in a material respect, it shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.