HL Deb 24 October 2000 vol 618 cc255-6

.—(1) No election material shall be published unless—

  1. (a) in the case of material which is, or is contained in, such a printed document as is mentioned in subsection (3), (4) or (5), the requirements of that subsection are complied with; or
  2. (b) in the case of any other material, any requirements falling to be complied with in relation to the material by virtue of regulations under subsection (6) are complied with.

(2) For the purposes of subsections (3) to (5) the following details are "the relevant details" in the case of any material falling within subsection (1)(a), namely—

  1. (a) the name and address of the printer of the document;
  2. (b) the name and address of the promoter of the material; and
  3. (c) the name and address of any person on behalf of whom the material is being published (and who is not the promoter).

(3) Where the material is a document consisting (or consisting principally) of a single side of printed matter, the relevant details must appear on the face of the document.

(4) Where the material is a printed document other than one to which subsection (3) applies, the relevant details must appear either on the first or the last page of the document.

(5) Where the material is an advertisement contained in a newspaper or periodical—

  1. (a) the name and address of the printer of the newspaper or periodical must appear either on its first or last page; and
  2. (b) the relevant details specified in subsection (2)(b) and (c) must be included in the advertisement.

(6) The Secretary of State may, after consulting the Commission, by regulations make provision for and in connection with the imposition of requirements as to the inclusion in material falling within subsection (1)(b) of the following details, namely—

  1. (a) the name and address of the promoter of the material; and
  2. (b) the name and address of any person on behalf of whom the material is being published (and who is not the promoter).

(7) Regulations under subsection (6) may in particular specify—

  1. (a) the manner and form in which such details must be included in any such material for the purpose of complying with any such requirement;
  2. (b) circumstances in which—
    1. (i) any such requirement does not have to be complied with by a person of any description specified in the regulations, or
    2. (ii) a breach of any such requirement by a person of any description so specified is not to result in the commission of an offence under this section by that person or by a person of any other such description;
  3. (c) circumstances in which material is, or is not, to be taken for the purposes of the regulations to be published or (as the case may be) published by a person of any description so specified.

(8) Where any material falling within subsection (1)(a) is published in contravention of subsection (1), then (subject to subsection (10))—

  1. (a) the promoter of the material,
  2. (b) any other person by whom the material is so published, and
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  3. (c) the printer of the document, shall be guilty of an offence.

(9) Where any material falling within subsection (1)(b) is published in contravention of subsection (1), then (subject to regulations made by virtue of subsection (7)(b) and to subsection (10))—

  1. (a) the promoter of the material, and
  2. (b) any other person by whom the material is so published,
shall be guilty of an offence.

(10) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove—

  1. (a) that the contravention of subsection (1) arose from circumstances beyond his control; and
  2. (b) that he took all reasonable steps, and exercised all due diligence, to ensure that that contravention would not arise.

(11) In this section—

Lord Bassam of Brighton moved Amendment No. 280D: After Clause 134, insert the following new clause—