Health and Social Care Act 2012

262Other dissemination: directions and requests under sections 254 and 255

(1)A direction under section 254 may require the Information Centre to disseminate information which it obtains by complying with the direction if the information falls within subsection (2).

(2)Information falls within this subsection if—

(a)the information is required to be published under section 260;

(b)the information is in a form which identifies any relevant person to whom the information relates or enables the identity of such a relevant person to be ascertained and—

(i)the relevant person has consented to the dissemination, or

(ii)the person giving the direction, after taking into account the public interest as well as the interests of the relevant person, considers that it is appropriate for the information to be disseminated;

(c)the information is in a form which identifies any individual to whom the information relates who is not a relevant person or enables the identity of such an individual to be ascertained and the individual has consented to the dissemination;

(d)the Centre is prohibited from publishing the information only by virtue of it falling within section 260(2)(c) and the person giving the direction considers it would be in the public interest for the information to be disseminated.

(3)A direction under section 254 may require the Information Centre to exercise—

(a)the power conferred by section 261(4) in relation to information which it collects pursuant to the direction, or

(b)any other power it has under or by virtue of any other provision of this Act (other than section 261(1) or (5)) or any other Act to disseminate information which it obtains by complying with the direction.

(4)A request under section 255 may request the Information Centre to exercise—

(a)the power conferred by section 261(1) or (4) in relation to information which it obtains by complying with the request, or

(b)any other power it has to disseminate such information under or by virtue of any other provision of this or any other Act.

(5)A direction under section 254 may require, and a request under section 255 may request, the Information Centre not to exercise the power conferred by section 261(1) or (4) in relation to information which it obtains by complying with the direction or request.

(6)Section 255(3) does not apply in relation to anything included in a mandatory request by virtue of subsection (4) or (5).

(7)A requirement imposed on, or a request made to, the Information Centre in accordance with this section to disseminate information may include a requirement or request about the persons to whom the information is to be disseminated and the form, manner and timing of dissemination.