For the purpose of facilitating—
the making of a determination under section 69(1); or
the preparation or conduct of discussions concerning Community arrangements for or relating to the regulation of the market for sugar,
the appropriate Minister may serve on any processor of home-grown beet a notice requiring him to furnish in writing, within such period as is specified in the notice, such information as is so specified.
Subject to subsection (3), information obtained under subsection (1) shall not be disclosed without the previous consent in writing of the person by whom the information was furnished; and a person who discloses any information so obtained in contravention of this subsection shall be liable—
on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both;
on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.
Nothing in subsection (2) shall restrict the disclosure of information to any of the Ministers or the disclosure—
of information obtained under subsection (1)(a)—
to a person designated to make a determination under section 69(1); or
to a body which substantially represents the growers of home-grown beet; or
of information obtained under subsection (1)(b), to the EU institution concerned.
In this section " the appropriate Minister " means—
in relation to England, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and
in relation to Scotland or Wales, the Secretary of State