The existing provisions of regulation 2 (interpretation) shall become paragraph (1) of that regulation, and at the end of that paragraph add—

“and “electronic communication” has the meaning given in section 15(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 200033.

(2)

In these Regulations, in relation to the use of electronic communications for any purpose of these Regulations which is capable of being effected electronically—

(a)

the expression “address” includes any number or address used for the purposes of such communications, except that where these Regulations impose an obligation on any person to provide a name and address to any other person, the obligation shall not be fulfilled unless the person on whom it is imposed provides a postal address;

(b)

references to forms, plans, notices and other documents, or to copies of such documents, include references to such documents or copies of them in electronic form.

(3)

Paragraphs (4) to (7) apply where an electronic communication is used by a person for the purpose of fulfilling any requirement in these Regulations to give or send any form, plan, notice or other document to any other person (“the recipient”).

(4)

The requirement shall be taken to be fulfilled where the form, plan, notice or other document transmitted by means of the electronic communication is—

(a)

capable of being accessed by the recipient,

(b)

legible in all material respects, and

(c)

sufficiently permanent to be used for subsequent reference.

(5)

In paragraph (4), “legible in all material respects” means that the information contained in the statement, notice or document is available to the recipient to no lesser extent than it would be if sent or given by means of a document in printed form.

(6)

Where the electronic communication is received by the recipient outside the recipient’s business hours, it shall be taken to have been received on the next working day; and for this purpose and the purposes of paragraph (3) of regulation 8A, “working day” means a day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holiday or other public holiday.

(7)

A requirement in these Regulations that any document should be in writing is fulfilled where that document meets the criteria in paragraph (4), and “written” and cognate expressions are to be construed accordingly.”.