26.— (1) The Bureau shall perform the functions assigned to it by or under this Part.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Bureau shall arrange for—

(a) the receipt and analysis of specimens of blood and urine forwarded to the Bureau under section 15, and the issue of reports on such analyses,

F68[(b) the determination, in respect of such specimens, of—

(i) the concentration of alcohol in the blood or urine,

(ii) the presence (if any) of a drug or drugs in the blood or urine, and

(iii) the concentration of a drug or drugs present in the blood,]

(c) the issue of certificates required under Chapter 4, to be issued by the Bureau,

(d) the provision of equipment for the taking of such specimens,

(e) the approval of—

(i) apparatus for indicating the presence of alcohol, and

(ii) apparatus for determining the concentration of alcohol,

F69[in the breath,]

F70[(f) the approval of apparatus for indicating the presence of drugs in oral fluid.]

(3) The Bureau may, from time to time, arrange for research into—

(a) the physical and mental fitness of drivers of vehicles,

(b) the medical aspects of road safety,

(c) the effects of the consumption of intoxicating liquor or the taking of drugs on drivers of vehicles and the methods of measuring such effects, and

(d) the methods of determining the extent to which alcohol or drugs is or are present in a person’s body.

F71[(4) The Bureau may—

(a) arrange for the supply and testing of—

(i) apparatus for indicating the presence of alcohol, and

(ii) apparatus for determining the concentration of alcohol,

in the breath,

(b) arrange for the supply and testing of apparatus for indicating the presence of drugs in oral fluid, and

(c) give such assistance, whether financial or otherwise, as it thinks proper to persons carrying out or intending to carry out research referred to in subsection (3).]

(5) The Freedom of Information Act 1997 is amended in section 46(1) (as amended by section 29 of the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 2003) by inserting after paragraph (ba) (inserted by section 112 of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001) the following:

“(bb) a record held or created by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2010 (other than a record concerning the general administration of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety),”.