“election programme,—

• “(a) in the definition of advertising programme and in sections 8 and 21, means a programme broadcast under Part 6; and

• “(b) in Part 6, has the meaning given to it by section 69”.

• “(1) A complainant must refer the complaint directly to the Authority if the complaint is that an election programme did not meet 1 or more of the standards in section 4(1)(a) to (c) and (e).

• “(1A) A complainant may refer the complaint directly to the Authority if—

  • “(a) the complaint is that a broadcaster failed to comply with section 4(1)(c); and

  • “(b) the complainant chooses to refer the complaint directly to the Authority.

• “(1B) A complainant may refer the complaint to the Authority if the complainant—

  • “(a) made the complaint under section 6(1)(a); and

  • “(b) is dissatisfied with—

    • “(i) the decision of the broadcaster; or

    • “(ii) the action taken by the broadcaster.

• “(1C) A complainant may refer the complaint to the Authority if—

  • “(a) the complaint is about a programme other than an election programme; and

  • “(b) at least 20 working days have passed since the broadcaster received the complaint; and

  • “(c) the broadcaster has not notified the complainant of—

    • “(i) the decision of the broadcaster; or

    • “(ii) the action taken by the broadcaster; and

  • “(d) the broadcaster—

    • “(i) has not given the complainant a notice under subsection (1D); or

    • “(ii) has given the complainant a notice under subsection (1D) but has not complied with the statement under subsection (1D)(c).

• “(1D) A broadcaster that receives a complaint under section 6 may give the complainant a notice in writing or electronically within 20 working days after receiving the complaint—

  • “(a) stating that the broadcaster will be unable to make a decision or take action on the complaint within 20 working days after receiving the complaint; and

  • “(b) stating the reasons why the broadcaster will be unable to do so; and

  • “(c) stating that the broadcaster will tell the complainant about its decision or action on the complaint within 40 working days after the broadcaster received the complaint.”

“9 Time limits

• “(1) The Authority must not accept a complaint made outside the period specified for the complaint in this section.

  “(2) A complaint under section 8(1) must be made to the Authority in the period—

  • “(a) starting on the first working day after the broadcast of the programme that the complaint is about; and

  • “(b) ending 60 working days later.

  “(3) A complaint under section 8(1A) must be made to the Authority in the period—

  • “(a) starting on the first working day after the broadcast of the programme that the complaint is about; and

  • “(b) ending 20 working days later.

  “(4) A complaint under section 8(1B) must be made to the Authority in the period—

  • “(a) starting on the first working day after the day on which the complainant received notice of the broadcaster's decision or action on the complaint; and

  • “(b) ending 20 working days later.

  “(5) A complaint under section 8(1C) must be made to the Authority in the period—

  • “(a) starting on the first working day after the broadcast of the programme that the complaint is about; and

  • “(b) ending 60 working days later.”

• “(b) to receive and determine complaints that election programmes did not meet 1 or more of the standards in section 4(1)(a) to (c) and (e); and

• “(ba) to receive and determine complaints when—

  • “(i) the complaint is that a broadcaster failed to comply with section 4(1)(c); and

  • “(ii) the complainant has chosen to refer the complaint directly to the Authority; and”.