Commentary on provisions of the Act Section 2: Power to direct departments to provide advice and information, and to carry out consultations
Section 2 confers powers on the Secretary of State to direct Northern Ireland departments to provide advice and information, and/or to carry out consultations, for the purpose of developing options for raising more public revenue in Northern Ireland or otherwise improving the sustainability of public finances in Northern Ireland, during the current period in which there is no Executive.
	A direction for advice or information under this section may include provision about the manner or form in which such advice or information is to be provided, or the timing of doing so. Where a direction is given to provide information that is not within a Northern Ireland department’s possession, the provision requires the department to take reasonable steps to obtain the information for the purpose of complying with the direction.
	A direction to carry out a consultation may include provision about who is to be consulted, how the consultation is to be carried out, the content of the consultation (including provision requiring the approval of the Secretary of State to whatever is consulted on), and the consultation timetable.
	The power in section 2 may be exercised so as to require two or more Northern Ireland departments to provide joint advice or collate information.
	Section 2 provides that a direction under this section would lapse at the end of the current period in which there is no Executive, and provides that disclosures from Northern Ireland departments under must not contravene relevant data protection legislation.