(1)Regulations made for the purposes of this Act shall make provision for the publication by His Majesty’s Stationery Office of lists showing the date upon which every statutory instrument printed and sold by [F1or under the authority of] the King’s printer of Acts of Parliament was first issued by [F1or under the authority of] that office; and in any legal proceedings a copy of any list so published [F2purporting to bear the imprint of the King’s printer] shall be received in evidence as a true copy, and an entry therein shall be conclusive evidence of the date on which any statutory instrument was first issued by [F1or under the authority of] His Majesty’s Stationery Office.
(2)In any proceedings against any person for an offence consisting of a contravention of any such statutory instrument, it shall be a defence to prove that the instrument had not been issued by [F1or under the authority of] His Majesty’s Stationery Office at the date of the alleged contravention unless it is proved that at that date reasonable steps had been taken for the purpose of bringing the purport of the instrument to the notice of the public, or of persons likely to be affected by it, or of the person charged.
(3)Save as therein otherwise expressly provided, nothing in this section shall affect any enactment or rule of law relating to the time at which any statutory instrument comes into operation.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 3(2) inserted (retrospective to 26.3.1946) by 1996 c. 54, s. 1(1)(a) (with s. 1(2))
F2Words in s. 3(1) omitted (retrospective to 26.3.1946) by virtue of 1996 c. 54, s. 1(1)(b)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 3 excluded (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1096, art. 3(2); S.I. 1998/3178