125

(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.