Pensions Act 1995

9 After section 158 there is inserted—

“158A Other disclosures by the Secretary of State.

(1) The Secretary of State may, in spite of any obligation as to secrecy or confidentiality imposed by statute or otherwise on him or on persons employed in the Department of Social Security, disclose any information received by him in connection with his functions under this Act or the Pensions Act 1995 to any person specified in the first column of the following Table if he considers that the disclosure would enable or assist the person to discharge the functions specified in relation to the person in the second column of the Table.

TABLE

Persons	Functions
The Treasury.	Functions under the Financial Services Act 1986.
The Bank of England.	Functions under the Banking Act 1987 or any other functions.
The Regulatory Authority.	Functions under this Act or the Pensions Act 1995, or any enactment in force in Northern Ireland corresponding to either of them.
The Pensions Compensation Board.	Functions under the Pensions Act 1995 or any corresponding enactment in force in Northern Ireland.
The Friendly Societies Commission.	Functions under the enactments relating to friendly societies.
The Building Societies Commission.	Functions under the Building Societies Act 1986.
An inspector appointed by the Secretary of State.	Functions under section 94 or 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986.
A person authorised to exercise powers under section 106 of the Financial Services Act 1986.	Functions under that section.
A designated agency or transferee body or the competent authority (within the meaning of the Financial Services Act 1986).	Functions under the Financial Services Act 1986.
A recognised self-regulating organisation, recognised professional body, recognised investment exchange or recognised clearing house (within the meaning of the Financial Services Act 1986).	Functions in its capacity as an organisation, body, exchange or clearing house recognised under the Financial Services Act 1986.

(2) The Secretary of State may by order—

(a) amend the Table in subsection (1) by—

(i) adding any person exercising regulatory functions and specifying functions in relation to that person,

(ii) removing any person for the time being specified in the Table, or

(iii) altering the functions for the time being specified in the Table in relation to any person, or

(b) restrict the circumstances in which, or impose conditions subject to which, disclosure may be made to any person for the time being specified in the Table”.