A person against whom a claim is made in respect of any such liability as is required to be covered by a policy of insurance under section 145 of this Act shall, on demand by or on behalf of the person making the claim—
(a) state whether or not, in respect of that liability, he was insured by a policy having effect for the purposes of this Part of this Act or had in force a security having effect for those purposes, or would have been so insured or would have had in force such a security if the insurer or, as the case may be, the giver of the security had not avoided or cancelled the policy or security, and
(b) if he was or would have been so insured, or had or would have had in force such a security, give such particulars with respect to that policy or security as were specified in the certificate of insurance or security delivered in respect of that policy or security, as the case may be, under section 147 of this Act.
If without reasonable excuse, a person fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) above, or wilfully makes a false statement in reply to any such demand as aforesaid, he shall be guilty of an offence.