PART 5Inquiries and investigations
Publication of reports
I182Publication of reports of inquiries and investigations
1
This section applies where a report is made to the Treasury under section 71 or 79.
2
Subject to subsection (3), the Treasury must publish the report in full.
3
The Treasury may withhold material in the report from publication to such extent—
a
b
as the Treasury consider to be necessary in the public interest, having regard in particular to the matters mentioned in subsection (4).
4
Those matters are—
a
the extent to which withholding material might inhibit the allaying of public concern;
b
the risk of harm or damage that could be avoided or reduced by withholding any material;
c
any conditions of confidentiality subject to which any person acquired information that was given to the inquiry or used in the investigation.
5
In subsection (4)(b) “harm or damage” includes in particular—
a
damage to national security or international relations;
b
damage to the economic interests of the United Kingdom or a part of the United Kingdom;
c
damage caused by disclosure of commercially sensitive information.
6
The Treasury must lay before Parliament whatever is published under subsection (2).
7
If the Treasury receive a report under section 71 or 79, but withhold all or part of the material in the report from publication, they must publish and lay before Parliament a statement of their reasons for not publishing the report in full.
8
Publication under subsection (2) or (7) is to be in such manner as the Treasury think fit.
9
References to a report under section 71 or 79 include references to an interim report required under section 69 or 78.