Part 1Espionage, sabotage and persons acting for foreign powers
Foreign interference
I1I214Foreign interference: meaning of “interference effect”
1
For the purposes of section 13 an “interference effect” means any of the following effects—
a
interfering with the exercise by a particular person of a Convention right in the United Kingdom,
b
affecting the exercise by any person of their public functions,
c
interfering with whether, or how, any person makes use of services provided in the exercise of public functions,
d
interfering with whether, or how, any person (other than in the exercise of a public function) participates in relevant political processes or makes political decisions,
e
interfering with whether, or how, any person (other than in the exercise of a public function) participates in legal processes under the law of the United Kingdom, or
f
prejudicing the safety or interests of the United Kingdom.
2
An effect may be an interference effect whether it relates to a specific instance of a matter mentioned in subsection (1), or to the matter in general.
3
a
an election or referendum in the United Kingdom,
b
the proceedings of a local authority,
c
the proceedings of a UK registered political party, or
d
the activities of an informal group consisting of or including members of—
i
one or both of Houses of Parliament,
ii
the Northern Ireland Assembly,
iii
the Scottish Parliament, or
iv
Senedd Cymru,
(acting in that capacity).
4
a
a Minister of the Crown (within the meaning of the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975) or a United Kingdom government department,
b
a Northern Ireland Minister, the First Minister in Northern Ireland, the deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland, a person appointed as a junior Minister under section 19 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, a Northern Ireland department or the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly,
c
the Scottish Ministers or the First Minister for Scotland,
d
the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister for Wales or the Counsel General to the Welsh Government, or
e
a local authority.
5
In this section—
“Convention rights” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998;
the “law of the United Kingdom” includes the law of any part of the United Kingdom;
“local authority” means—
- a
in England—
- i
a county council;
- ii
a district council;
- iii
a London borough council;
- iv
a combined authority established under section 103 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;
- v
a parish council;
- vi
the Council of the Isles of Scilly;
- vii
the Common Council of the City of London;
- viii
the Sub-Treasurer of the Inner Temple;
- ix
the Under Treasurer of the Middle Temple;
- i
- b
in Wales, a county council, county borough council or community council;
- c
in Scotland, a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994;
- d
in Northern Ireland, a district council;
- a
“public functions” means functions of a public nature—
- a
exercisable in the United Kingdom, or
- b
exercisable in a country or territory outside the United Kingdom by a person acting for or on behalf of, or holding office under, the Crown;
- a
“UK registered political party” means a political party registered under Part 2 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.