98Provision of statistical information
(1)The Secretary of State may, if he considers it expedient for the purpose of obtaining statistical information relating to the generation, transmission or supply of electricity, serve a notice under this section on any licence holder or any person who is authorised by an exemption to generate or supply electricity.
(2)A notice under this section may require the person on whom it is served to furnish, at a time and place specified in the notice, to the Secretary of State such statistical information about that person’s business as may be so specified.
(3)Subject to subsections (4) and (5) below, no information with respect to any particular business which—
(a)has been obtained under this section; and
(b)relates to the affairs of any individual or to any particular business,
shall, during the lifetime of that individual or so long as that business continues to be carried on, be published or otherwise disclosed without the consent of that individual or the person for the time being carrying on that business.
(4)Subsection (3) above does not apply in relation to any disclosure which is made after consultation with the individual concerned, or the person for the time being carrying on the business concerned, and is of information relating to—
(a)the quantities of electricity generated by particular methods or by the use of particular fuels;
(b)the quantities of particular fuels used for the generation of electricity;
(c)the quantities of electricity transferred between Great Britain and countries or territories outside Great Britain, or between England and Wales on the one hand and Scotland on the other; or
(d)the quantities of electricity supplied in England, Scotland or Wales either generally or to persons of any particular class or description.
(5)Subsection (3) above does not apply in relation to any disclosure which is made to the Minister in charge of any Government department or for the purposes of any proceedings under this section.
(6)The Secretary of State may, after consultation with persons or bodies appearing to him to be representative of persons likely to be affected, by order amend subsection (4) above so as to add other descriptions of information which may be disclosed notwithstanding that it may relate to a particular person or business.
(7)Any person who without reasonable excuse fails to furnish information in compliance with a requirement under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.
(8)Any person who publishes or discloses any information in contravention of subsection (3) above or, in purported compliance with a requirement under this section, knowingly or recklessly furnishes any information which is false in any material particular shall be liable—
(a)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both;
(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine or both.
(9)In this section “information” does not include estimates as to future matters but, subject to that, expressions which are used in Part I have the same meanings as in that Part.