s 19 Obtaining of information from persons and authorities.
(1) For the purposes of the discharge of his functions under this Part, the Secretary of State may, by notice in writing served on an enforcing authority, require the authority to furnish such information about the discharge of its functions as an enforcing authority under this Part as he may require. (2) For the purposes of the discharge of their respective functions under this Part, the following authorities, that is to say— (a) the Secretary of State, (b) a local enforcing authority, (c) the Environment Agency, and (d) SEPA , may, by notice in writing served on any person, require that person to furnish to the authority such information which the authority reasonably considers that it needs as is specified in the notice, in such form and within such period following service of the notice , or at such time, as is so specified. (3) For the purposes of this section the discharge by the Secretary of State of an obligation of the United Kingdom under ... any international agreement relating to environmental protection shall be treated as a function of his under this Part.