s 11 Restriction on disclosure of information relating to plant.
(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, any person who without the consent of the Minister communicates to any other person except an authorised person any document, drawing, photograph, plan, model or other information whatsoever which to his knowledge describes, represents or illustrates— (a) any existing or proposed plant used or proposed to be used for the purpose of producing or using atomic energy; (b) the purpose or method of operation of any such existing or proposed plant; or (c) any process operated or proposed to be operated in any such existing or proposed plant; shall be guilty of an offence under this Act: Provided that it shall not be such an offence to communicate information with respect to any plant of a type in use for purposes other than the production or use of atomic energy, unless the information discloses that plant of that type is used or proposed to be used for the production or use of atomic energy. In this subsection “ authorised person ” means, in relation to information on any subject to which this subsection applies, a person to whom, by virtue of a general authority granted by the Minister, information on that subject may be communicated. (2) The Minister shall not withhold consent under the last foregoing subsection, if he is satisfied that the information proposed to be communicated is not of importance for purposes of defence. (2A) The communication of information is not an offence under this section if it is— (a) communication to the Office for Nuclear Regulation of information required under section 97 of the Energy Act 2013 (power of ONR to obtain information), or any subsequent communication of that information by the Office for Nuclear Regulation, or (b) communication to an authorised inspector of information required by the inspector under paragraph 15 of Schedule 8 to that Act (power of inspectors to require information and documents), or any subsequent communication of that information by an inspector. (3) The Minister may by order grant exemption from this section in such classes of cases, and to such extent and subject to such conditions, as may be specified in the order. (4) Where any information has been made available to the general public otherwise than in contravention of this section, any subsequent communication of that information shall not constitute an offence under this Act.