The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 1(4), 2(2), 6(1), 7(3), 10(5) and 11(1) of the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 20031.

The Secretary of State has consulted the deposit libraries2 and the publishers appearing to the Secretary of State to be likely to be affected by these Regulations.

The Secretary of State has consulted the Scottish Ministers and the Welsh Ministers3.

The Secretary of State is satisfied that as regards the restriction by section 7 of the Act (having regard to these Regulations) of activities in relation to relevant material4, the restriction of those activities under the laws of Ireland is not substantially less.

The Secretary of State is satisfied that as regards the protection under the laws of any part of the United Kingdom of copyright, publication right, database right and patents in relation to relevant material, the protection under the laws of Ireland of corresponding rights is not substantially less.

The Secretary of State is satisfied that as regards the protection from liability under subsections (3) and (4) of section 10 of the Act, the protection under the laws of Ireland in relation to corresponding liability is not substantially less.

The Secretary of State considers that the costs likely to be incurred as a result of these Regulations by persons who publish works to which these Regulations relate are not disproportionate to the benefit to the public arising from the delivery of copies of such works.

The Secretary of State considers that these Regulations do not unreasonably prejudice the interests of persons who publish works to which these Regulations relate.

In accordance with section 11(6) of the Act a draft of this instrument was laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.