2In the [1947 c. 39.] Statistics of Trade Act 1947, after section 9 (restrictions on disclosure of information) there shall be inserted—
“9AExceptions from section 9.
(1)Nothing in section nine of this Act shall prevent or penalise the disclosure by the Secretary of State of information obtained under this Act—
(a)to the Environment Agency or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency; or
(b)to an officer of either of those Agencies authorised by that Agency to receive the information.
(2)A person to whom information is disclosed in pursuance of the last foregoing subsection shall not use the information for any purpose other than the purposes of any functions of the Agency in question.”