Broadcasting Act 1981

29 Government control over Authority as to certain other matters

(1) The Secretary of State or any other Minister of the Crown may, if it appears to him to be necessary or expedient to do so in connection with his functions as such, at any time by notice in writing require the Authority to broadcast, at such times and from such of the stations used by them as may be specified in the notice, any announcement specified in the notice, with or without visual images of any picture, scene or object mentioned in the announcement; and it shall be the duty of the Authority to comply with the notice.

(2) Where the Authority broadcast any announcement in pursuance of a notice under subsection (1) they may, if they think fit, announce that they are doing so in pursuance of such a notice.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), the Secretary of State may at any time by notice in writing require the Authority to refrain from broadcasting any matter or classes of matter specified in the notice; and it shall be the duty of the Authority to comply with the notice.

(4) If the Secretary of State by notice in writing requires the Authority under subsection (3) to refrain from broadcasting anything, the Authority may, if they think fit, broadcast an announcement of the notice or of the revocation or expiration of the notice.

(5) The Secretary of State may at any time, after consultation with the Authority, by notice in writing require the Authority—

(a) to adopt or use, or refrain from adopting or using, technical measures or processes specified in the notice ;

(b) to install, establish, maintain or use any such additional station, stations or apparatus as may be so specified, situated in such places and complying with such requirements as may be so specified ;

(c) to broadcast such test or experimental transmissions from such station or stations, and at such times and for such periods, as may be so specified ;

and it shall be the duty of the Authority to comply with the notice.

(6) A copy of any notice served on the Authority under subsection (5) shall be laid by the Secretary of State before each House of Parliament.

(7) The powers conferred by this section are in addition to any powers specifically conferred on the Secretary of State by any other provisions of this Act.

(8) In relation to any broadcasting station in Northern Ireland, the reference in subsection (1) to a Minister of the Crown includes a reference to the head of any Northern Ireland department.