Part VII Referendums

Chapter III Controls on Publications

I1C1125 Restriction on publication etc. of promotional material by central and local government etc.

1

This section applies to any material which—

a

provides general information about a referendum to which this Part applies;

b

deals with any of the issues raised by any question on which such a referendum is being held;

c

puts any arguments for or against any particular answer to any such question; or

d

is designed to encourage voting at such a referendum.

2

Subject to subsection (3), no material to which this section applies shall be published during the relevant period by or on behalf of—

a

any Minister of the Crown, government department or local authority; or

b

any other person or body whose expenses are defrayed wholly or mainly out of public funds or by any local authority.

3

Subsection (2) does not apply to—

a

material made available to persons in response to specific requests for information or to persons specifically seeking access to it;

b

anything done by or on behalf of the Commission or a person or body designated under section 108 (designation of organisations to whom assistance is available);

c

the publication of information relating to the holding of the poll; or

d

the issue of press notices;

and subsection (2)(b) shall not be taken as applying to the British Broadcasting Corporation or Sianel Pedwar Cymru.

4

In this section—

a

“publish” means make available to the public at large, or any section of the public, in whatever form and by whatever means (and “publication” shall be construed accordingly);

b

“the relevant period”, in relation to a referendum, means the period of 28 days ending with the date of the poll.