(This note is not part of the Order)

These Regulations amend the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Disclosure of Confidential Information) Regulations 2001 ("the principal regulations") by adding a new entry to the table in Part 1 of Schedule 1.

The new entry refers to persons appointed by the Treasury to hold inquiries into matters relating to financial services (including inquiries under section 15 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000), and officers and members of staff of such inquiries.

The effect of the amendment is to allow the disclosure of confidential information, as defined in section 348(2) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, to the persons referred to in the first column of the new entry, for the purposes described in the second column. The ability to disclose confidential information is subject to the conditions set out in regulations 9, 10 and 12 of the principal regulations.