Part 3: Information about medical supplies Section 8: Provision and disclosure of information United Kingdom purposes
the exercise by the Secretary of State of any powers under sections 260 to 265 (these sections relate to the control of the cost of health service medicines and supplies); or
	the operation of a voluntary scheme.
	Section 264A also provides that:
regulations made under new section 264A must require the Secretary of State to give a UK producer an information notice if information is required in respect of costs incurred by the producer in connection with the manufacturing, distribution or supply of a particular product (other than costs which relate to any transaction between the producer and a UK producer for that product). Section 264A sets out the information that must be included in an information notice.
where an information notice is not required, regulations may set out that information is provided in relation to or for a prescribed period or at prescribed intervals, the form and manner the information is to be provided, and the time or period within which information is to be provided.
	The provision of information under section 264A does not breach any obligation of confidentiality owed by a person providing the information nor can it breach any other restriction that may have been imposed on the disclosure of that information to the Secretary of State.
	Subsection (9) of section 264A limits the Secretary of State's power to obtain information, by making clear that the Secretary of State is not be able to request information from persons providing primary care services and pharmaceutical services in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, where those persons are supplying products used or required for the purposes of the respective health services, and where those products are supplied under primary medical services or pharmaceutical services as part of their health services.
	Subsections (8), (10), (11), (12) and (13) of new section 264A, inserted by section 8 of the Act, define various terms used in the new section. In particular they define what is meant by "English health service products", "Welsh health service products", "Scottish health service products", and "UK health service products" by setting out the distinction between the meaning of "health service" in England and the rest of the UK by reference to the relevant legislation in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In explaining what is meant by "products" the subsections clarify that the term includes medicinal products used for the purpose of those health services and any other medical supplies or other related products required for the purposes of those health services.
	The meaning of "medical supplies" is confirmed by reference to section 260(5) (Control of maximum price of medical supplies other than health service medicines) so that the meaning includes surgical, dental and optical materials and equipment.