(1)The Council may, by notice, require a person within subsection (3) to supply it with such information as is specified or described in the notice within such reasonable period as is so specified.
(2)The information specified or described in a notice under subsection (1) must be information the Council requires for the purpose of exercising its functions.
(3)The persons referred to in subsection (1) are—
(a)the Office of Fair Trading;
(b)a designated regulator;
(c)any person who supplies goods or services in the course of a business carried on by that person;
(d)any other person specified or of a description specified by the Secretary of State by order for the purposes of this subsection.
(4)A notice under subsection (1) may specify the manner and form in which any information is to be provided.
(5)Before giving a notice under subsection (1), or specifying the manner or form in which any information is to be provided, the Council must have regard to the desirability of minimising the costs, or any other detriment, to the person to whom the notice is to be given.
(6)If a person within subsection (3)(a) or (b) fails to comply with a notice under subsection (1), the person must, if so required by the Council, give notice to the Council of the reasons for the failure.
(7)An order under subsection (3)(d) may provide either—
(a)that subsection (6) is to apply in relation to a person specified or of a description specified by the order as it applies to a person within subsection (3)(a) or (b), or
(b)that section 26 is to apply in relation to such a person.
(8)The Council may publish any notice received under subsection (6).
(9)In this section—
“designated regulator” means—
the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority;
the Postal Services Commission;
the Water Services Regulation Authority;
any other person prescribed by the Secretary of State by order for the purposes of this subsection;
“goods” includes land or an interest in land.