A Minister of the Crown may require a person or body listed in Part 1 or 3 of Schedule 1—
The Scottish Ministers may require a person or body listed in Part 2 or 4 of Schedule 1—
The Welsh Ministers may require a person or body listed in Part 2A or 5 of Schedule 1—
A requirement under subsection (1), (2) or (2A) may specify—
A person or body shall comply with a requirement under subsection (1), (2) or (2A) .
In relation to emergencies that do not fall within section 1(1)(c), the power under subsection (1) to require the Chief Constable (PSNI) to provide information or an explanation is exercisable by the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland (and not by a Minister of the Crown).
If it appears to the Chief Constable (PSNI) that a requirement imposed by virtue of subsection (5) may require the Chief Constable (PSNI) to provide national security information, the Chief Constable (PSNI) may refer the requirement to a Minister of the Crown.
The Minister may set aside or otherwise modify the requirement as the Minister considers appropriate so that the Chief Constable (PSNI) is not required to provide any information which appears to the Minister to be national security information.
"National security information" means information the disclosure of which to the public would, or would be likely to, adversely affect national security.