(1)  Where information has been provided and the provision of that information –

(a) was required or permitted by this Act; or

(b) was authorised by a Minister, a principal officer or a delegated officer in the bona fide belief that the information was required to be provided in accordance with this Act –

an action for defamation or breach of confidence does not lie against the Crown, a public authority, a Minister or an officer by reason of the provision or the authorising of the provision of that information, and an action for defamation or breach of confidence in respect of any publication involved in, or resulting from, the provision of that information does not lie against the author of the information or any other person by reason of that author or other person having supplied the information to a public authority or Minister.

(2)  The provision of information (including exempt information) in consequence of a request made under this Act does not constitute, for the purposes of the law relating to defamation or breach of confidence, an authorisation or approval for the publication of that information by the person to whom the information was provided.