Commentary on Sections Other purposes for which registered information can be provided Section 20: Power to authorise provision of information in other circumstances
135.This section provides (Subsection (1)) that where there is no authorisation under sections 17 to 19 the Secretary of State may nevertheless provide information without consent where an order has been made specifying or describing the information, to a public authority so specified or described, for purposes so specified or described as long as any requirements under section 21 are complied with. The Secretary of State’s power to authorise the provision of such information is restricted to circumstances where the provision is necessary in the public interest (subsection (2)). This order (subsection (3)) is subject to an affirmative resolution procedure. The information which can be provided is limited to information not falling within paragraph 9 of Schedule 1 (the audit log information).