The National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) Order 2007

Broadcasting of local items during election period.

67.—(1) Each broadcasting authority shall adopt a code of practice with respect to the participation of candidates at an Assembly election in items about the constituency or electoral region in question which are included in relevant services during the election period.

(2) The code for the time being adopted by a broadcasting authority under this article shall be either—

(a) a code drawn up by that authority, whether on their own or jointly with one or more other broadcasting authorities; or

(b) a code drawn up by one or more other such authorities,

and a broadcasting authority shall from time to time consider whether the code for the time being so adopted by them should be replaced by a further code falling within sub-paragraph (a) or (b).

(3) Before drawing up a code under this article a broadcasting authority shall have regard to any views expressed by the Commission and any such code may make different provision for different cases.

(4) The Office of Communications shall do all that they can to secure that the code for the time being adopted by them under this article is observed in the provision of relevant services; and the British Broadcasting Corporation and Sianel Pedwar Cymru shall each observe in the provision of relevant services the code so adopted by them.

(5) For the purpose of paragraph (1) “the election period”, means the period beginning with—

(a) in relation to the 2007 Assembly general election, the last date for publication of notice of the election;

(b) in relation to any other Assembly general election, the date of dissolution of the Assembly; and

(c) in relation to any election to fill a casual vacancy, the date of the occurrence of the vacancy, and

in each case ending with the close of the poll.

(6) In this article—

“broadcasting authority” means the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Office of Communications or Sianel Pedwar Cymru;

“candidate”, means a candidate (including a party list candidate) standing nominated(1); and

“relevant services”—

(a)

in relation to the British Broadcasting Corporation or Sianel Pedwar Cymru, means services broadcast by that body; and

(b)

in relation to the Office of Communications, means services licensed under Part 1 or 3 of the Broadcasting Act 1990(2) or Part 1 or 2 of the Broadcasting Act 1996(3).

(1)

As to candidates which stand nominated, see rule 16 of Schedule 5, in relation to constituency candidates; and rule 17 of Schedule 5 in relation to individual candidates and party list candidates.

(2)

1990 c. 42

(3)

1996 c. 55