b. the administrative authorities of provinces, municipalities, water boards and regulatory industrial organisations; c. administrative authorities whose activities are subject to the responsibility of the authorities referred to in subsection 1 (a and b); d. such other administrative authorities as are not excluded by order in council. 2. Notwithstanding subsection 1 (d), this Act shall apply only to such administrative authorities responsible for education and research in the policy field of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science as have been designated by order in council. Chapter II. Public Access Section 2 An administrative authority shall, in the exercise of its functions, disclose information in accordance with the present Act, without prejudice to provisions laid down in other statutes. Chapter III. Information on application Section 3 1. Anyone may apply to an administrative authority or to an agency, service or company carrying out work for which it is accountable to an administrative authority for information contained in documents concerning an administrative matter. 2. The applicant shall specify the administrative matter or the document relevant to it about which he wishes information. 3. An application for information shall be granted with due regard for the provisions of sections 10 and 11. Section 4 If the application concerns documents held by an administrative authority other than that to which the application has been submitted, the applicant shall, if necessary, be referred to that authority. If the application was made in writing, it shall be forwarded and the applicant shall be notified accordingly. Section 5 1. The decision on an application for information shall be given verbally or in writing. 2. The applicant shall receive written notification of a refusal to disclose all or part of the information for which he applied in writing. If the application was made verbally, the applicant shall receive, on request, written notification of the refusal. This option shall be brought to the attention of the applicant. 3. The decision shall likewise be given in writing if the application for information concerns a third party and said third party has applied for this information. In such a case, the decision and the information relevant to the third party shall be sent to him. Section 6 The administrative authority shall decide on the application for information at the earliest possible opportunity, and in any event no more than two weeks after the date of receipt of the application. The administrative authority may defer the decision for no more than a further two weeks. The applicant shall be notified in writing, with reasons, of the deferment before the first two-week period has elapsed.