Emergency Communications Act 2021
[Passed by Unanimous Consent, Royal Assent December 24, 2021]
AN ACT to amend The Emergency Communications Act 2014.
I. Short Title: This Act may be referred to as the Emergency Communications Act 2021
II. The Purpose of this bill is to amend the Previously passed Emergency Communications Act 2014 as follows: (Deletions in Red, Additions in Blue)
The Emergency Communications Act 2014 [9th October 2014]
AN ACT to make fresh provision in Law with respect to government and essential services communications contingencies in the event of emergency situations whereby official State communications outlets are catastrophically impacted or otherwise disrupted.
WHEREAS it is expedient that certain contingencies be established by the Government with respect to communications in situations whereby the continuity of the business of the State is threatened, imperiled, or otherwise impacted due to unforeseen emergencies or disasters: Be it therefore enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
I. Short Title
This Act may be cited for all purposes as “The Emergency Communications Act, 2014.”
1. Communications of the Cabinet
A senior member of the Realm shall at all times own at least one group within the Kingdom as a meeting place in the event of interruption due to page deletion linked to the King’s account by Facebook. The Cabinet shall meet via the Kingdom’s Blogspot, Discord in the event of an unforeseen interruption of internet communications of all the Facebook groups.
1. An Alternative Venue for the Meetings of Parliament
The Blogspot Discord shall be used by Parliament in the event that a change of venue shall be made necessary by unforeseen disruptions or emergencies. The business of Parliament must not be delayed by the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of Parliament, or other the temporary moderator of Parliament for a period longer than 48 hours from the first moment of an unforeseen interruption of communications.
1. The Postponement of Elections
In the event of a sudden, unforeseen interruption of normal communications, no election which may have been scheduled within seven (7) days of the said interruption shall be postponed beyond a period of seven (7) additional days.
1. The Privy Council
The Lord President of the Council shall maintain a private list of e-mail addresses for all Privy Counsellors in order that they may be contacted by the Government in the event of an emergency. Every member of His Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council shall be required to submit to the Lord President of the Council some e-mail address by which he is contactable.
1. Communications between all essential Constitutional Persons and Offices
An open line of Communication between the Sovereign, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, the Privy Council, and the Lord Chancellor (or other the speaker of Parliament and likewise other keeper of the Great Seal), shall be at all times maintained.
1. Commencement This Act and all the provisions therein shall come into force upon receiving the Royal Assent.
[THE ROYAL ASSENT]
III. Commencement: This Act and all the provisions therein shall come into force upon receiving the Royal Assent.