15. Use of documents or information

The Authority —

may examine, take possession of, make copies of and take extracts from any document provided under a requirement referred to in rule 14(1)(b) or (c);

may retain that document for so long as is necessary for the purposes of the inquiry; and

must allow a person who would be entitled to inspect the document if it were not in the possession of the Authority to inspect it, make a copy of it or take an extract from it at any reasonable time.

The Authority may give directions prohibiting or restricting —

the publication of any answer, document or other information provided to it under a requirement referred to in rule 14(1);

a part of any such answer, document or other information; and

a copy of, or extract from, any such answer, document, other information or part.

The Authority may communicate to any person as the Authority considers appropriate any answer, document or other information provided under a requirement referred to in rule 14(1), or part of any such answer, document or other information, except where —

a direction in respect of the answer, document, other information or part has been given under paragraph (2) and its provision to that person would contravene the direction; or

the answer, document, other information or part contains information which could cause damage to the commercial interests of a person and the Authority determines that such damage or the possibility of such damage outweighs the public benefit that would arise from its publication.

Any person who contravenes a direction under paragraph (2) shall be guilty of an offence.

The Authority —

may examine, take possession of, make copies of and take extracts from any document provided under a requirement referred to in rule 14(1)(b) or (c);

may retain that document for so long as is necessary for the purposes of the inquiry; and

must allow a person who would be entitled to inspect the document if it were not in the possession of the Authority to inspect it, make a copy of it or take an extract from it at any reasonable time.

The Authority may give directions prohibiting or restricting —

the publication of any answer, document or other information provided to it under a requirement referred to in rule 14(1);

a part of any such answer, document or other information; and

a copy of, or extract from, any such answer, document, other information or part.

The Authority may communicate to any person as the Authority considers appropriate any answer, document or other information provided under a requirement referred to in rule 14(1), or part of any such answer, document or other information, except where —

a direction in respect of the answer, document, other information or part has been given under paragraph (2) and its provision to that person would contravene the direction; or

the answer, document, other information or part contains information which could cause damage to the commercial interests of a person and the Authority determines that such damage or the possibility of such damage outweighs the public benefit that would arise from its publication.

Any person who contravenes a direction under paragraph (2) shall be guilty of an offence.