{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/investigatory-powers-act-2016/schedule-7/paragraph-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/investigatory-powers-act-2016/schedule-7/paragraph-4.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2016/25",
  "legislation_title": "Investigatory Powers Act 2016",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/investigatory-powers-act-2016",
  "path": "schedule/7/paragraph/4",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "(1) Before issuing a code the Secretary of State must—\n(a) prepare and publish a draft of the code, and\n(b) consider any representations made about it,\nand may modify the draft.\n(2) The Secretary of State must, in particular, consult the Investigatory Powers Commissioner and, in the case of a code relating to the exercise of functions conferred by virtue of Part 4, the Information Commission.\n(3) A code comes into force in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State.\n(4) A statutory instrument containing such regulations may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.\n(5) When a draft instrument is laid, the code to which it relates must also be laid.\n(6) No draft instrument may be laid until the consultation required by sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) has taken place.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 7 para. 4(2) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 20(g)(ii); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Sch. 7 para. 4 in force at 13.2.2017 by S.I. 2017/137, reg. 2(t)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/25/schedule/7/paragraph/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:06:02.282680+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}