(1)  On receipt of an application for a licence or the renewal of a licence, the responsible licensing authority may carry out the investigations and inquiries that the responsible licensing authority considers necessary to determine the application.

(2)  The responsible licensing authority may, by notice in writing to a person who has applied for a licence, or for the renewal of a licence, require the person to –

(a) provide the information, and produce the records, that are relevant to the investigation of the application and are specified in the notice; and

(b) provide the responsible licensing authority with the authorities and consents that the responsible licensing authority requires in order to obtain from other persons financial or other confidential information concerning the applicant.

(3)  Despite subsection (2) , a responsible licensing authority may not require a person who has applied for a poppy research licence or a poppy grower's licence, or for the renewal of such a licence, to –

(a) provide information, or produce records, that relate to financial matters or the connections or associations that the person has with other persons; or

(b) provide an authority or consent so as to enable the authority to obtain, from other persons, financial information concerning the person or information as to the connections or associations that the person has with other persons.

(4)  If a requirement made under this section is not complied with, the responsible licensing authority may refuse to determine the application.