Defamation Act 1996

19 Commencement

(1) Sections 18 to 20 (extent, commencement and other general provisions) come into force on Royal Assent.

(2) The following provisions of this Act come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed—

• section 1 (responsibility for publication),

• sections 5 and 6 (time limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood),

• section 12 (evidence of convictions),

• section 13 (evidence concerning proceedings in Parliament),

• section 16 and the repeals in Schedule 2, so far as consequential on the above provisions, and

• section 17 (interpretation), so far as relating to the above provisions.

(3) The provisions of this Act otherwise come into force on such day as may be appointed—

(a) for England and Wales or Northern Ireland, by order of the Lord Chancellor, or

(b) for Scotland, by order of the Secretary of State,

and different days may be appointed for different purposes.

(4) Any such order shall be made by statutory instrument and may contain such transitional provisions as appear to the Lord Chancellor or Secretary of State to be appropriate.