Sections relating to the provision and disclosure of information
The Act amends the NHS Act 2006 to provide for a single information gathering power in relation to health service products which will replace the existing statutory information gathering powers relating to the statutory and voluntary schemes, providing a clearer basis for collecting and using that information. The Act amends the NHS Act 2006 so that information can be shared with specified persons for specified defined purposes.
	The Act amends the NHS Act 2006 to remove existing powers to request information under sections 260 to 264, and introduces a new section to the NHS Act 2006 to allow the Secretary of State to make, subject to certain limitations, regulations to require a person who manufactures, distributes or supplies health service medicines, medical supplies or other related products required for the purposes of the health services in the United Kingdom, to keep and supply information with regards to those products.
	It is also possible for the Secretary of State to disclose that information to specified persons for specified purposes (see commentary on section 8 below).
	The amendments to the NHS Act 2006 do not provide the Secretary of State with the power 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 health services in their nation, and where those products are supplied under primary medical services or pharmaceutical services as part of their health services. This reflects the agreement between the Department and the Devolved Administrations that the Secretary of State collects information from wholesalers and manufacturers from across the UK and that each nation collects information from pharmacies and GP practices across their own territories.
	The Act also amends the NHS (Wales) Act to allow Welsh Ministers to request information from pharmacists or GPs for Welsh purposes as specified in the Act (see commentary on section 9 below).