Legislation – Data (Use and Access) Act 2025

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Introduction

Part 1
Access to customer data and business data

1 Customer data and business data

2 Power to make provision in connection with customer data

3 Customer data: supplementary

4 Power to make provision in connection with business data

5 Business data: supplementary

6 Decision-makers

7 Interface bodies

8 Enforcement of regulations under this Part

9 Restrictions on powers of investigation etc

10 Financial penalties

11 Fees

12 Levy

13 Financial assistance

14 The FCA and financial services interfaces

15 The FCA and financial services interfaces: supplementary

16 The FCA and financial services interfaces: penalties and levies

17 The FCA and co-ordination with other regulators

18 Liability in damages

19 Duty to review regulations

20 Restrictions on processing and data protection

21 Regulations under this Part: supplementary

22 Regulations under this Part: Parliamentary procedure and consultation

23 Related subordinate legislation

24 Repeal of provisions relating to supply of customer data

25 Other defined terms

26 Index of defined terms for this Part

Part 2
Digital verification services

27 Introductory

28 DVS trust framework

29 Supplementary codes

30 Withdrawal of a supplementary code

31 Review of DVS trust framework and supplementary codes

32 DVS register

33 Registration in the DVS register

34 Power to refuse registration in the DVS register

35 Registration of additional services

36 Supplementary notes

37 Addition of services to supplementary notes

38 Applications for registration, supplementary notes, etc

39 Fees for applications for registration, supplementary notes, etc

40 Duty to remove person from the DVS register

41 Power to remove person from the DVS register

42 Duty to remove services from the DVS register

43 Duty to remove supplementary notes from the DVS register

44 Duty to remove services from supplementary notes

45 Power of public authority to disclose information to registered person

46 Information disclosed by the Revenue and Customs

47 Information disclosed by the Welsh Revenue Authority

48 Information disclosed by Revenue Scotland

49 Code of practice about the disclosure of information

50 Trust mark for use by registered persons

51 Power of Secretary of State to require information

52 Arrangements for third party to exercise functions

53 Report on the operation of this Part

54 Index of defined terms for this Part

55 Powers relating to verification of identity or status

Part 3
National Underground Asset Register

56 National Underground Asset Register: England and Wales

57 Information in relation to apparatus: England and Wales

58 National Underground Asset Register: Northern Ireland

59 Information in relation to apparatus: Northern Ireland

60 Pre-commencement consultation

Part 4
Registers of births and deaths

61 Form in which registers of births and deaths are to be kept

62 Provision of equipment and facilities by local authorities

63 Requirements to sign register

64 Treatment of existing registers and records

65 Minor and consequential amendments

Part 5
Data protection and privacy

Chapter 1 Data protection

Terms used in this Chapter

66 The 2018 Act and the UK GDPR

Definitions in the UK GDPR and the 2018 Act

67 Meaning of research and statistical purposes

68 Consent to processing for the purposes of scientific research

69 Consent to law enforcement processing

Data protection principles

70 Lawfulness of processing

71 The purpose limitation

72 Processing in reliance on relevant international law

Processing of special categories of personal data

73 Elected representatives responding to requests

74 Processing of special categories of personal data

Data subject’s rights

75 Fees and reasons for responses to data subjects’ requests about law enforcement processing

76 Time limits for responding to data subjects’ requests

77 Information to be provided to data subjects

78 Searches in response to data subjects’ requests

79 Data subjects’ rights to information: legal professional privilege exemption

Automated decision-making

80 Automated decision-making

Obligations of controllers

81 Data protection by design: children’s higher protection matters

Logging of law enforcement processing

82 Logging of law enforcement processing

Codes of conduct

83 General processing and codes of conduct

84 Law enforcement processing and codes of conduct

International transfers of personal data

85 Transfers of personal data to third countries and international organisations

Safeguards for processing for research etc purposes

86 Safeguards for processing for research etc purposes

87 Section 86: consequential provision

National security

88 National security exemption

Intelligence services

89 Joint processing by intelligence services and competent authorities

90 Joint processing: consequential amendments

Information Commissioner’s role

91 Duties of the Commissioner in carrying out functions

92 Codes of practice for the processing of personal data

93 Codes of practice: panels and impact assessments

94 Manifestly unfounded or excessive requests to the Commissioner

95 Analysis of performance

96 Notices from the Commissioner

Enforcement

97 Power of the Commissioner to require documents

98 Power of the Commissioner to require a report

99 Assessment notices: removal of OFSTED restriction

100 Interview notices

101 Penalty notices

102 Annual report on regulatory action

103 Complaints by data subjects

104 Court procedure in connection with subject access requests

105 Consequential amendments to the EITSET Regulations

Protection of prohibitions, restrictions and data subject’s rights

106 Protection of prohibitions, restrictions and data subject’s rights

Miscellaneous

107 Regulations under the UK GDPR

108 Further minor provision about data protection

Chapter 2 Privacy and electronic communications

109 The PEC Regulations

110 Interpretation of the PEC Regulations

111 Duty to notify the Commissioner of personal data breach: time periods

112 Storing information in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user

113 Emergency alerts: interpretation of time periods

114 Use of electronic mail for direct marketing by charities

115 Commissioner’s enforcement powers

116 Codes of conduct

Part 6
The Information Commission

117 The Information Commission

118 Abolition of the office of Information Commissioner

119 Transfer of functions to the Information Commission

120 Transfer of property etc to the Information Commission

Part 7
Other provision about use of, or access to, data

121 Information standards for health and adult social care in England

122 Grant of smart meter communication licences

123 Disclosure of information to improve public service delivery to undertakings

124 Retention of information by providers of internet services in connection with death of child

125 Information for research about online safety matters

126 Retention of biometric data and recordable offences

127 Retention of pseudonymised biometric data

128 Retention of biometric data from INTERPOL

129 The eIDAS Regulation

130 Recognition of EU conformity assessment bodies

131 Removal of recognition of EU standards etc

132 Recognition of overseas trust products

133 Co-operation between supervisory authority and overseas authorities

134 Time periods: the eIDAS Regulation and the EITSET Regulations

135 Economic impact assessment

136 Report on the use of copyright works in the development of AI systems

137 Progress statement

138 Creating, or requesting the creation of, purported intimate image of adult

Part 8
Final provisions

139 Power to make consequential amendments

140 Regulations

141 Extent

142 Commencement

143 Transitional, transitory and saving provision

144 Short title

SCHEDULES

Schedule 1 National Underground Asset Register (England and Wales): monetary penalties

Schedule 2 National Underground Asset Register (Northern Ireland): monetary penalties

Schedule 3 Registers of births and deaths: minor and consequential amendments

Schedule 4 Lawfulness of processing: recognised legitimate interests

Schedule 5 Purpose limitation: processing to be treated as compatible with original purpose

Schedule 6 Automated decision-making: minor and consequential amendments

Schedule 7 Transfers of personal data to third countries etc: general processing

Schedule 8 Transfers of personal data to third countries etc: law enforcement processing

Schedule 9 Transfers of personal data to third countries etc: minor and consequential amendments and transitional provision

Schedule 10 Complaints: minor and consequential amendments

Schedule 11 Further minor provision about data protection

Schedule 12 Storing information in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user

Schedule 13 Privacy and electronic communications: Commissioner’s enforcement powers

Schedule 14 The Information Commission

Schedule 15 Information standards for health and adult social care in England

Schedule 16 Grant of smart meter communication licences

Changes to legislation:

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Changes to Legislation

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Part 3National Underground Asset Register

56National Underground Asset Register: England and Wales

(1)

After section 106 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 insert—

“Part 3ANational Underground Asset Register: England and Wales

The register

106ANational Underground Asset Register

(1)

The Secretary of State must keep a register of information relating to apparatus in streets in England and Wales.

(2)

The register is to be known as the National Underground Asset Register (and is referred to in this Act as “NUAR”).

(3)

NUAR must be kept in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

(4)

The Secretary of State must make arrangements so as to enable any person who is required, by a provision of this Act, to enter information into NUAR to have access to NUAR for that purpose.

(5)

Regulations under subsection (3) are subject to the negative procedure.

(6)

The obligations of the Secretary of State under subsection (1) and under Article 45A(1) of the Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/3210 (N.I. 19)) (keeping of register of information relating to apparatus in streets in Northern Ireland) may be discharged by the keeping of a single register in relation to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

106BInitial upload of information into NUAR

(1)

Before the end of the initial upload period an undertaker having apparatus in a street must enter into NUAR—

(a)

all information that is included in the undertaker’s records under section 79(1) on the archive upload date, and

(b)

any other information of a prescribed description that is held by the undertaker on that date.

(2)

The duty under subsection (1) does not apply in such cases as may be prescribed.

(3)

Information must be entered into NUAR under subsection (1) in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

(4)

An undertaker who fails to comply with a duty placed on the undertaker under this section—

(a)

commits an offence, and

(b)

is liable to compensate any person in respect of damage or loss incurred by the person in consequence of the failure.

(5)

A person who commits an offence under subsection (4)(a) is liable on summary conviction to a fine.

(6)

In criminal or civil proceedings against an undertaker arising out of a failure to comply with a duty under this section, it is a defence for the undertaker to show that all reasonable care was taken to secure that no such failure occurred by—

(a)

the undertaker and the undertaker’s employees, and

(b)

any contractor of the undertaker and the contractor’s employees.

(7)

Section 95 applies in relation to an offence under this section as it applies in relation to an offence under Part 3.

(8)

For the purposes of subsection (1) the Secretary of State must by regulations—

(a)

specify a date as “the archive upload date”, and

(b)

specify a period beginning with that date as the “initial upload period”.

(9)

Regulations under this section are subject to the negative procedure.

106CAccess to information kept in NUAR

(1)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for or in connection with making information kept in NUAR available.

(2)

The regulations may (among other things)—

(a)

make provision about which information, or descriptions of information, may be made available;

(b)

make provision about the descriptions of person to whom information may be made available;

(c)

make provision for information to be made available subject to exceptions;

(d)

make provision requiring or authorising the Secretary of State to adapt, modify or obscure information before making it available;

(e)

make provision authorising all information kept in NUAR to be made available to prescribed descriptions of person under prescribed conditions;

(f)

make provision about the purposes for which information may be made available;

(g)

make provision about the form and manner in which information may be made available;

(h)

make provision for or in connection with the granting of licences by the Secretary of State in relation to any non-Crown IP rights that may exist in relation to information made available (including provision about the form of a licence and the terms and conditions of a licence);

(i)

make provision for information to be made available for free or for a fee;

(j)

make provision about the amounts of the fees, including provision for the amount of a fee to be an amount which is intended to exceed the cost of the things in respect of which the fee is charged;

(k)

make provision about how funds raised by means of fees must or may be used, including provision for funds to be paid to persons who are required, by a provision of this Act, to enter information into NUAR.

(3)

Except as otherwise prescribed and subject to section 106I, processing of information by the Secretary of State in exercise of functions conferred by or under section 106A or this section does not breach—

(a)

an obligation of confidence owed by the Secretary of State, or

(b)

any other restriction on the processing of information (however imposed).

(4)

Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative procedure.

(5)

In this section—

database right” has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Copyright and Rights in Databases Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/3032);

non-Crown IP right” means any copyright, database right or other intellectual property right which is not owned by the Crown.

106DGuidance

(1)

The Secretary of State must produce guidance for persons described in subsection (2) about how to protect information kept in, or obtained from, NUAR.

(2)

The persons are persons who, pursuant to regulations made under section 106C, are able to access information kept in NUAR.

(3)

The Secretary of State may revise or replace the guidance.

(4)

The Secretary of State must publish the guidance (and any revised or replacement guidance) in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for bringing it to the attention of persons described in subsection (2).

(5)

The same guidance may discharge the obligations of the Secretary of State under this section and under Article 45D of the Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/3210 (N.I. 19)).

Requirements for undertakers to pay fees and provide information

106EFees payable by undertakers in relation to NUAR

(1)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision requiring undertakers having apparatus in a street to pay fees to the Secretary of State for or in connection with the exercise by the Secretary of State of any function conferred by or under this Part.

(2)

The regulations may—

(a)

specify the amounts of the fees, or the maximum amounts of the fees, or

(b)

provide for the amounts of the fees, or the maximum amounts of the fees, to be determined in accordance with the regulations.

(3)

In making the regulations the Secretary of State must seek to secure that, so far as possible and taking one year with another, combined NUAR income matches combined NUAR expenses.

(4)

Except where the regulations specify the amounts of the fees—

(a)

the amounts of the fees must be specified by the Secretary of State in a statement, and

(b)

the Secretary of State must—

(i)

publish the statement, and

(ii)

lay it before Parliament.

(5)

Regulations under subsection (1) may make provision about—

(a)

when a fee is to be paid;

(b)

the manner in which a fee is to be paid;

(c)

the payment of discounted fees;

(d)

exceptions to requirements to pay fees;

(e)

the refund of all or part of a fee which has been paid.

(6)

Before making regulations under subsection (1), the Secretary of State must consult—

(a)

such representatives of persons likely to be affected by the regulations as the Secretary of State considers appropriate, and

(b)

such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(7)

Subject to the following provisions of this section regulations under subsection (1) are subject to the affirmative procedure.

(8)

Regulations under subsection (1) that only make provision of a kind mentioned in subsection (2) are subject to the negative procedure.

(9)

But the first regulations under subsection (1) that make provision of a kind mentioned in subsection (2) are subject to the affirmative procedure.

(10)

In this section—

combined NUAR expenses” means the sum of—

(a)

expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in, or in connection with, exercising functions conferred by or under this Part (including expenses not directly connected with the keeping of NUAR), and

(b)

expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in, or in connection with, exercising functions conferred by or under Articles 45A to 45I of, and Schedule 2ZA to, the Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/3210 (N.I. 19)) (including expenses not directly connected with the keeping of the register kept under Article 45A(1) of that Order);

combined NUAR income” means the sum of—

(a)

income received by the Secretary of State from fees payable under regulations under subsection (1), and

(b)

income received by the Secretary of State from fees payable under regulations under Article 45E(1) of the Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/3210 (N.I. 19)).

106FProviding information for purposes of regulations under
section 106E

(1)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision requiring undertakers having apparatus in a street to provide information to the Secretary of State for either or both of the following purposes—

(a)

assisting the Secretary of State in determining the provision that it is appropriate for regulations under section 106E(1) or a statement under section 106E(4) to make;

(b)

assisting the Secretary of State in determining whether it is appropriate to make changes to such provision.

(2)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision requiring undertakers having apparatus in a street to provide information to the Secretary of State for either or both of the following purposes—

(a)

ascertaining whether a fee is payable by a person under regulations under section 106E(1);

(b)

working out the amount of a fee payable by a person.

(3)

Regulations under subsection (1) or (2) may require an undertaker to notify the Secretary of State of any changes to information previously provided under the regulations.

(4)

Regulations under subsection (1) or (2) may make provision about—

(a)

when information is to be provided (which may be at prescribed intervals);

(b)

the form and manner in which information is to be provided;

(c)

exceptions to requirements to provide information.

(5)

Regulations under subsection (1) or (2) are subject to the negative procedure.

Monetary penalties

106GMonetary penalties

Schedule 5A makes provision about the imposition of penalties in connection with requirements imposed by regulations under sections 106E(1) and 106F(1) and (2).

Exercise of functions by third party

106HArrangements for third party to exercise functions

(1)

The Secretary of State may make arrangements for a prescribed person to exercise a relevant function of the Secretary of State.

(2)

More than one person may be prescribed.

(3)

Arrangements under this section may—

(a)

provide for the Secretary of State to make payments to the person, and

(b)

make provision as to the circumstances in which such payments are to be repaid to the Secretary of State.

(4)

In the case of the exercise of a function by a person authorised by arrangements under this section to exercise that function, a reference in this Part or in regulations under this Part to the Secretary of State in connection with that function is to be read as a reference to that person.

(5)

Arrangements under this section do not prevent the Secretary of State from exercising a function to which the arrangements relate.

(6)

Except as otherwise prescribed and subject to section 106I, the disclosure of information between the Secretary of State and a person in connection with the person’s entering into arrangements under this section or exercise of functions to which such arrangements relate does not breach—

(a)

an obligation of confidence owed by the person making the disclosure, or

(b)

any other restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).

(7)

Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative procedure.

(8)

In this section “relevant function” means a function of the Secretary of State conferred by or under this Part (including the function of charging or recovering fees under regulations under section 106E) other than—

(a)

a power to make regulations, or

(b)

a function under section 106E(4) (specifying of fees etc).

(9)

If a person exercises the function of charging or recovering fees by virtue of arrangements under this section, the person must pay the fees to the Secretary of State, except to the extent that the Secretary of State directs otherwise.

Data protection

106IData protection

(1)

A duty or power to process information that is imposed or conferred by or under this Part does not operate to require or authorise the processing of personal data that would contravene the data protection legislation (but in determining whether processing of personal data would do so, that duty or power is to be taken into account).

(2)

In this section—

the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3(9) of that Act);

personal data” has the same meaning as in that Act (see section 3(2) of that Act).

Supplementary provisions

106JRegulations under this Part

(1)

In this Part “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(2)

Regulations under this Part may make—

(a)

different provision for different purposes;

(b)

supplementary and incidental provision.

(3)

Regulations under this Part are to be made by statutory instrument.

(4)

Before making regulations under this Part the Secretary of State must obtain the consent of the Welsh Ministers in relation to any provision which would be within the legislative competence of Senedd Cymru if contained in an Act of the Senedd (ignoring any requirement for the consent of a Minister of the Crown imposed under Schedule 7B to the Government of Wales Act 2006).

(5)

Where regulations under this Part are subject to “the affirmative procedure” the regulations may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing them has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(6)

Where regulations under this Part are subject to “the negative procedure” the statutory instrument containing the regulations is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(7)

Any provision that may be made in regulations under this Part subject to the negative procedure may be made in regulations subject to the affirmative procedure.

106KInterpretation

(1)

In this Part the following terms have the same meaning as in Part 3—

apparatus” (see sections 89(3) and 105(1));

in” (in a context referring to apparatus in a street) (see section 105(1));

street” (see section 48(1) and (2));

undertaker” (in relation to apparatus or in a context referring to having apparatus in a street) (see sections 48(5) and 89(4)).

(2)

In this Part “processing” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3(4) of that Act) and “process” is to be read accordingly.”

(2)

Section 166 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, so far as relating to Part 3A of that Act (inserted by subsection (1)), extends to England and Wales.

(3)

In section 167 of that Act (Crown application), after subsection (5) insert—

“(5A)

The provisions of Part 3A of this Act (National Underground Asset Register: England and Wales) bind the Crown.

(5B)

Nothing in subsection (5A) is to be construed as authorising the bringing of proceedings for a criminal offence against a person acting on behalf of the Crown.”

(4)

Schedule 1 to this Act inserts Schedule 5A into the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (monetary penalties).

Annotations:
Commencement Information

I1S. 56 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 142(1)(2)(h)

57Information in relation to apparatus: England and Wales

(1)

The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (6).

(2)

For the italic heading before section 79 (records of location of apparatus) substitute “Duties in relation to recording and sharing of information about apparatus”.

(3)

In section 79—

(a)

for the heading substitute “Information in relation to apparatus”;

(b)

in subsection (1), for paragraph (c) substitute—

“(c)

being informed of its location under section 80(2)(a),”;

(c)

after subsection (1A) (as inserted by section 46(2) of the Traffic Management Act 2004) insert—

“(1B)

An undertaker must, except in such cases as may be prescribed, record in relation to every item of apparatus belonging to the undertaker such other information as may be prescribed as soon as reasonably practicable after—

(a)

placing the item in the street or altering its position,

(b)

inspecting, maintaining, adjusting, repairing, altering or renewing the item,

(c)

locating the item in the street in the course of executing any other works, or

(d)

receiving any such information in relation to the item under section 80(2)(a).”;

(d)

omit subsection (3);

(e)

in subsection (3A) (as inserted by section 46(4) of the Traffic Management Act 2004)—

(i)

for “to (3)” substitute “and (2A)”;

(ii)

for “subsection (1)” substitute “this section”;

(f)

after subsection (3A) insert—

“(3B)

Except in such cases as may be prescribed, where an undertaker records information as required by subsection (1) or (1B), or updates such information, the undertaker must, within a prescribed period, enter the recorded or updated information into NUAR.

(3C)

Information must be entered into NUAR under subsection (3B) in such form and manner as may be prescribed.”;

(g)

in subsection (4)(a), omit “not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale”;

(h)

after subsection (6) insert—

“(7)

In this section “prescribed” means—

(a)

in subsections (1) to (2)—

(i)

in relation to apparatus in streets in England, prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State;

(ii)

in relation to apparatus in streets in Wales, prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State or the Welsh Ministers;

(b)

otherwise, prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(8)

Before making regulations under this section the Secretary of State must obtain the consent of the Welsh Ministers in relation to any provision that relates to apparatus in streets in Wales.

(9)

For the meaning of “NUAR”, see section 106A.”

(4)

For section 80 (duty to inform undertakers of location of apparatus) substitute—

“80Duties to report missing or incorrect information in relation to apparatus

(1)

Subsection (2) applies where a relevant person executing works of any description in a street finds an item of apparatus which does not belong to the person in relation to which prescribed information—

(a)

is not entered in NUAR, or

(b)

is entered in NUAR but is incorrect.

(2)

Except in such cases as may be prescribed, the person must—

(a)

take such steps as are reasonably practicable to inform the undertaker to whom the item belongs of the missing or incorrect information, and

(b)

if (having taken such steps) the person is unable to inform the undertaker to whom the item belongs of the missing or incorrect information, enter into NUAR, in such form and manner as may be prescribed, prescribed information in relation to the item.

(3)

A person who fails to comply with subsection (2) commits an offence.

(4)

A person who commits an offence under subsection (3) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(5)

Before making regulations under this section the Secretary of State must obtain the consent of the Welsh Ministers in relation to any provision that relates to apparatus in streets in Wales.

(6)

Before making regulations under this section the Secretary of State must consult—

(a)

such representatives of persons likely to be affected by the regulations as the Secretary of State considers appropriate, and

(b)

such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(7)

For the purposes of this section a person executing works in a street is a “relevant person” if the person has, pursuant to regulations under section 106C(1), access to NUAR in relation to the street in question.

(8)

For the meaning of “NUAR”, see section 106A.”

(5)

Before section 81 (duty to maintain apparatus) insert—

“Other duties and liabilities of undertakers in relation to apparatus”.

(6)

In section 104 (regulations)—

(a)

in subsection (1)—

(i)

after “Part” insert “, except in section 79,”;

(ii)

omit from “, which” to the end;

(b)

after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A)

Regulations under this Part may make—

(a)

different provision for different cases;

(b)

supplementary or incidental provision.”;

(c)

in subsection (2), after “Regulations” insert “made by the Secretary of State”;

(d)

after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A)

Regulations made by the Welsh Ministers under section 79 are to be made by statutory instrument and a statutory instrument containing such regulations is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of Senedd Cymru.”

(7)

In consequence of the provision made by subsection (4), omit section 47 of the Traffic Management Act 2004.

(8)

In Schedule 7B to the Government of Wales Act 2006 (general restriction on competence of Senedd Cymru), in paragraph 11(6)(b) (exceptions to restrictions relating to Ministers of the Crown), before sub-paragraph (i) insert—

“(ai)

section 79 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991;”.

Annotations:
Commencement Information

I2S. 57 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 142(1)(2)(h)

58National Underground Asset Register: Northern Ireland

(1)

The Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/3210 (N.I. 19)) is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (4).

(2)

In Article 2 (interpretation), in paragraph (2)—

(a)

after the definition of “in” insert—

““NUAR provision” means any of Articles 45A to 45I and Schedule 2ZA;”;

(b)

in the definition of “prescribed”—

(i)

for “means” substitute “means—”;

(ii)

the words from “prescribed by” to the end become paragraph (a);

(iii)

at the beginning of that paragraph insert “except in Articles 39 and 40 and a NUAR provision,”;

(iv)

after that paragraph insert—

  1. “(a)

    in Article 40 and a NUAR provision, prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State;”.

(3)

After Article 45

insert—

“National Underground Asset Register

National Underground Asset Register45A

(1)

The Secretary of State must keep a register of information relating to apparatus in streets in Northern Ireland.

(2)

The register is to be known as the National Underground Asset Register (and is referred to in this Order as “NUAR”).

(3)

NUAR must be kept in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

(4)

The Secretary of State must make arrangements so as to enable any person who is required, by a provision of this Order, to enter information into NUAR to have access to NUAR for that purpose.

(5)

The obligations of the Secretary of State under paragraph (1) and under section 106A(1) of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (keeping of register of information relating to apparatus in streets in England and Wales) may be discharged by the keeping of a single register in relation to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Initial upload of information into NUAR45B

(1)

Before the end of the initial upload period an undertaker having apparatus in a street must enter into NUAR—

(a)

all information that is included in the undertaker’s records under Article 39(1) on the archive upload date, and

(b)

any other information of a prescribed description that is held by the undertaker on that date.

(2)

The duty under paragraph (1) does not apply in such cases as may be prescribed.

(3)

Information must be entered into NUAR under paragraph (1) in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

(4)

An undertaker who fails to comply with a duty placed on the undertaker under this Article—

(a)

commits an offence, and

(b)

is liable to compensate any person in respect of damage or loss incurred by the person in consequence of the failure.

(5)

A person who commits an offence under paragraph (4)(a) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(6)

In criminal or civil proceedings against an undertaker arising out of a failure to comply with a duty under this Article, it is a defence for the undertaker to show that all reasonable care was taken to secure that no such failure occurred by—

(a)

the undertaker and the undertaker’s employees, and

(b)

any contractor of the undertaker and the contractor’s employees.

(7)

For the purposes of paragraph (1) the Secretary of State must by regulations—

(a)

specify a date as “the archive upload date”, and

(b)

specify a period beginning with that date as the “initial upload period”.

Access to information kept in NUAR45C

(1)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for or in connection with making information kept in NUAR available.

(2)

The regulations may (among other things)—

(a)

make provision about which information, or descriptions of information, may be made available;

(b)

make provision about the descriptions of person to whom information may be made available;

(c)

make provision for information to be made available subject to exceptions;

(d)

make provision requiring or authorising the Secretary of State to adapt, modify or obscure information before making it available;

(e)

make provision authorising all information kept in NUAR to be made available to prescribed descriptions of person under prescribed conditions;

(f)

make provision about the purposes for which information may be made available;

(g)

make provision about the form and manner in which information may be made available;

(h)

make provision for or in connection with the granting of licences by the Secretary of State in relation to any non-Crown IP rights that may exist in relation to information made available (including provision about the form of a licence and the terms and conditions of a licence);

(i)

make provision for information to be made available for free or for a fee;

(j)

make provision about the amounts of the fees, including provision for the amount of a fee to be an amount which is intended to exceed the cost of the things in respect of which the fee is charged;

(k)

make provision about how funds raised by means of fees must or may be used, including provision for funds to be paid to persons who are required, by a provision of this Order, to enter information into NUAR.

(3)

Except as otherwise prescribed and subject to Article 45I, processing of information by the Secretary of State in exercise of functions conferred by or under Article 45A or this Article does not breach—

(a)

an obligation of confidence owed by the Secretary of State, or

(b)

any other restriction on the processing of information (however imposed).

(4)

In this Article—

database right” has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Copyright and Rights in Databases Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/3032);

non-Crown IP right” means any copyright, database right or other intellectual property right which is not owned by the Crown;

processing” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3(4) of that Act).

Guidance45D

(1)

The Secretary of State must produce guidance for persons described in paragraph (2) about how to protect information kept in, or obtained from, NUAR.

(2)

The persons are persons who, pursuant to regulations made under Article 45C, are able to access information kept in NUAR.

(3)

The Secretary of State may revise or replace the guidance.

(4)

The Secretary of State must publish the guidance (and any revised or replacement guidance) in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for bringing it to the attention of persons described in paragraph (2).

(5)

The same guidance may discharge the obligations of the Secretary of State under this Article and under section 106D of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

Fees payable by undertakers in relation to NUAR45E

(1)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision requiring undertakers having apparatus in a street to pay fees to the Secretary of State for or in connection with the exercise by the Secretary of State of any function conferred by or under a NUAR provision.

(2)

The regulations may—

(a)

specify the amounts of the fees, or the maximum amounts of the fees, or

(b)

provide for the amounts of the fees, or the maximum amounts of the fees, to be determined in accordance with the regulations.

(3)

In making the regulations the Secretary of State must seek to secure that, so far as possible and taking one year with another, combined NUAR income matches combined NUAR expenses.

(4)

Except where the regulations specify the amounts of the fees—

(a)

the amounts of the fees must be specified by the Secretary of State in a statement, and

(b)

the Secretary of State must—

(i)

publish the statement, and

(ii)

lay it before Parliament.

(5)

Regulations under paragraph (1) may make provision about—

(a)

when a fee is to be paid;

(b)

the manner in which a fee is to be paid;

(c)

the payment of discounted fees;

(d)

exceptions to requirements to pay fees;

(e)

the refund of all or part of a fee which has been paid.

(6)

Before making regulations under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State must consult—

(a)

such representatives of persons likely to be affected by the regulations as the Secretary of State considers appropriate, and

(b)

such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(7)

In this Article—

combined NUAR expenses” means the sum of—

(a)

expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in, or in connection with, exercising functions conferred by or under a NUAR provision (including expenses not directly connected with the keeping of NUAR), and

(b)

expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in, or in connection with, exercising functions conferred by or under Part 3A of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (including expenses not directly connected with the keeping of the register kept under section 106A(1) of that Act);

combined NUAR income” means the sum of—

(a)

income received by the Secretary of State from fees payable under regulations under paragraph (1), and

(b)

income received by the Secretary of State from fees payable under regulations under section 106E(1) of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

Providing information for purposes of regulations under Article
45E
45F

(1)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision requiring undertakers having apparatus in a street to provide information to the Secretary of State for either or both of the following purposes—

(a)

assisting the Secretary of State in determining the provision that it is appropriate for regulations under Article 45E(1) or a statement under Article 45E(4) to make;

(b)

assisting the Secretary of State in determining whether it is appropriate to make changes to such provision.

(2)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision requiring undertakers having apparatus in a street to provide information to the Secretary of State for either or both of the following purposes—

(a)

ascertaining whether a fee is payable by a person under regulations under Article 45E(1);

(b)

working out the amount of a fee payable by a person.

(3)

Regulations under paragraph (1) or (2) may require an undertaker to notify the Secretary of State of any changes to information previously provided under the regulations.

(4)

Regulations under paragraph (1) or (2) may make provision about—

(a)

when information is to be provided (which may be at prescribed intervals);

(b)

the form and manner in which information is to be provided;

(c)

exceptions to requirements to provide information.

Monetary penalties45G

Schedule 2ZA makes provision about the imposition of penalties in connection with requirements imposed by regulations under Articles 45E(1) and 45F(1) and (2).

Arrangements for third party to exercise functions45H

(1)

The Secretary of State may make arrangements for a prescribed person to exercise a relevant function of the Secretary of State.

(2)

More than one person may be prescribed.

(3)

Arrangements under this Article may—

(a)

provide for the Secretary of State to make payments to the person, and

(b)

make provision as to the circumstances in which such payments are to be repaid to the Secretary of State.

(4)

In the case of the exercise of a function by a person authorised by arrangements under this Article to exercise that function, a reference in a NUAR provision or in regulations under a NUAR provision to the Secretary of State in connection with that function is to be read as a reference to that person.

(5)

Arrangements under this Article do not prevent the Secretary of State from exercising a function to which the arrangements relate.

(6)

Except as otherwise prescribed and subject to Article 45I, the disclosure of information between the Secretary of State and a person in connection with the person’s entering into arrangements under this Article or exercise of functions to which such arrangements relate does not breach—

(a)

an obligation of confidence owed by the person making the disclosure, or

(b)

any other restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).

(7)

In this Article “relevant function” means a function of the Secretary of State conferred by or under a NUAR provision (including the function of charging or recovering fees under regulations under Article 45E) other than—

(a)

a power to make regulations, or

(b)

a function under Article 45E(4) (specifying of fees etc).

(8)

If a person exercises the function of charging or recovering fees by virtue of arrangements under this Article, the person must pay the fees to the Secretary of State, except to the extent that the Secretary of State directs otherwise.

Data protection45I

(1)

A duty or power to process information that is imposed or conferred by or under a NUAR provision does not operate to require or authorise the processing of personal data that would contravene the data protection legislation (but in determining whether processing of personal data would do so, that duty or power is to be taken into account).

(2)

In this Article—

the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3(9) of that Act);

personal data” has the same meaning as in that Act (see section 3(2) of that Act);

processing” has the same meaning as in that Act (see section 3(4) of that Act).”

(4)

In Article 59 (regulations)—

(a)

before paragraph (1) insert—

“A1

Before making regulations under this Order the Secretary of State must obtain the consent of the Department for Infrastructure.

A2

Regulations under Article 39 or 40 or under a NUAR provision may make supplementary or incidental provision.”;

(b)

in paragraph (1), after “Order” insert “, other than regulations made by the Secretary of State,”;

(c)

before paragraph (2) insert—

“(1B)

For the purposes of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946 a power of the Secretary of State to make regulations under this Order is exercisable by statutory instrument, and that Act applies in relation to a document by which such a power is exercised as if this Order were an Act of Parliament passed after the commencement of that Act.

(1C)

Regulations made by the Secretary of State under Articles 39, 40, 45A, 45B and 45F are subject to the negative Westminster procedure.

(1D)

Subject to paragraphs (1E) and (1F), regulations made by the Secretary of State under Articles 45C, 45E and 45H and paragraph 1 of Schedule 2ZA are subject to the affirmative Westminster procedure.

(1E)

Regulations under Article 45E(1) that only make provision of a kind mentioned in Article 45E(2) are subject to the negative Westminster procedure.

(1F)

But the first regulations under Article 45E(1) that make provision of a kind mentioned in Article 45E(2) are subject to the affirmative Westminster procedure.

(1G)

Where regulations under this Order are subject to “the affirmative Westminster procedure” the regulations may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing them has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(1H)

Where regulations under this Order are subject to “the negative Westminster procedure” the statutory instrument containing the regulations is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(1I)

Any provision that may be made in regulations under this Order subject to the negative Westminster procedure may be made in regulations subject to the affirmative Westminster procedure.”

(5)

Article 59(A2) of the Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/3210 (N.I. 19)) (inserted by subsection (4)(a)) is revoked on the coming into operation of Article 59(1A) of that Order (as inserted by Article 28(3) of the Street Works (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/287 (N.I. 1))).

(6)

Schedule 2 to this Act inserts Schedule 2ZA into the Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/3210 (N.I. 19)) (monetary penalties).

Annotations:
Commencement Information

I3S. 58 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 142(1)(2)(h)

59Information in relation to apparatus: Northern Ireland

(1)

The Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/3210 (N.I. 19)) is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (5).

(2)

For the italic heading before Article 39 (records of location of apparatus) substitute “Duties in relation to recording and sharing of information about apparatus”.

(3)

In Article 39—

(a)

for the heading substitute “Information in relation to apparatus”;

(b)

in paragraph (1), for sub-paragraph (c) substitute—

“(c)

being informed of its location under Article 40(2)(a),”;

(c)

after paragraph (1A) (as inserted by Article 22(2) of the Street Works (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/287 (N.I. 1))) insert—

“(1B)

An undertaker must, except in such cases as may be prescribed, record in relation to every item of apparatus belonging to the undertaker such other information as may be prescribed as soon as reasonably practicable after—

(a)

placing the item in the street or altering its position,

(b)

inspecting, maintaining, adjusting, repairing, altering or renewing the item,

(c)

locating the item in the street in the course of executing any other works, or

(d)

receiving any such information in relation to the item under Article 40(2)(a).”;

(d)

omit paragraph (3);

(e)

in paragraph (3A) (as inserted by Article 22(4) of the Street Works (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/287 (N.I. 1)))

(i)

for “to (3)” substitute “and (2A)”;

(ii)

for “paragraph (1)” substitute “this Article”;

(f)

after paragraph (3A) insert—

“(3B)

Except in such cases as may be prescribed, where an undertaker records information as required by paragraph (1) or (1B), or updates such information, the undertaker must, within a prescribed period, enter the recorded or updated information into NUAR.

(3C)

Information must be entered into NUAR under paragraph (3B) in such form and manner as may be prescribed.”;

(g)

after paragraph (5) insert—

“(6)

In this Article “prescribed” means—

(a)

in paragraphs (1) to (2), prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State or the Department for Infrastructure;

(b)

otherwise, prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(7)

For the meaning of “NUAR”, see Article 45A.”

(4)

For Article 40 (duty to inform undertakers of location of apparatus) substitute—

“Duties to report missing or incorrect information in relation to apparatus40

(1)

Paragraph (2) applies where a relevant person executing works of any description in a street finds an item of apparatus which does not belong to the person in relation to which prescribed information—

(a)

is not entered in NUAR, or

(b)

is entered in NUAR but is incorrect.

(2)

Except in such cases as may be prescribed, the person must—

(a)

take such steps as are reasonably practicable to inform the undertaker to whom the item belongs of the missing or incorrect information, and

(b)

if (having taken such steps) the person is unable to inform the undertaker to whom the item belongs of the missing or incorrect information, enter into NUAR, in such form and manner as may be prescribed, prescribed information in relation to the item.

(3)

A person who fails to comply with paragraph (2) commits an offence.

(4)

A person who commits an offence under paragraph (3) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(5)

Before making regulations under this Article the Secretary of State must consult—

(a)

such representatives of persons likely to be affected by the regulations as the Secretary of State considers appropriate, and

(b)

such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(6)

For the purposes of this Article a person executing works in a street is a “relevant person” if the person has, pursuant to regulations under Article 45C, access to NUAR in relation to the street in question.

(7)

For the meaning of “NUAR”, see Article 45A.”

(5)

Before Article 41 (duty to maintain apparatus) insert—

“Other duties and liabilities of undertakers in relation to apparatus”.

(6)

As a consequence of the provision made by subsection (4), omit Article 23 of the Street Works (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/287 (N.I. 1)).

(7)

A power of the Secretary of State to make regulations under paragraph (1) or (2) of Article 39 of the Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/3210 (N.I. 19)) (by virtue of subsection (3)(g)) includes power to amend or revoke any provision of the Street Works (Records) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 (S.R. (N.I.) 2004 No. 276) made under the paragraph concerned.

Annotations:
Commencement Information

I4S. 59 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes, see s. 142(1)(2)(h)

60Pre-commencement consultation

(1)

A requirement to consult under a provision inserted into the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 by section 56 or 57 may be satisfied by consultation undertaken before the day on which this Act is passed.

(2)

A requirement to consult under a provision inserted into the Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/3210 (N.I. 19)) by section 58 or 59 may be satisfied by consultation undertaken before the day on which this Act is passed.

Annotations:
Commencement Information

I5S. 60 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 142(1)