If any person, in giving any information or making any application under or for the purposes of any provision of this Act, or of any regulations made under this Act, makes any statement which he knows to be false in a material particular, or recklessly makes any statement which is false in a material particular, he is guilty of an offence and shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;
on conviction on indictment, to a fine.
No proceedings shall be instituted in England and Wales in respect of an offence under this section except by or with the consent of the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions.