The Act of 1997 is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 36E:

"36EA. Collection and publication of information on relevant agreements

(1) The Minister may request the Bank, in writing, to collect and publish information which the Bank may collect and publish pursuant to section 5A(1)(g) of the Act of 1942 relating to -

(a) credit agreements,

(b) consumer-hire agreements, and

(c) hire-purchase agreements.

(2) The Minister may request the Bank to -

(a) obtain, in accordance with section 65 of the Act of 1942, information relating to hire-purchase agreements, and

(b) subject to subsection (6), publish that information.

(3) The Bank shall comply with a request from the Minister under subsection (1) or (2).

(4) A request under subsection (1) or (2) shall specify -

(a) the information which is required to be collected, obtained or published, as the case may be, and

(b) the manner in which the information is to be published.

(5) A request under subsection (1) or (2) may be for the collecting, obtaining or publication of information on -