Explanatory note

These Regulations are made in exercise of the powers conferred by section 8(1) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16) in order to address failures of retained EU law to operate effectively and other deficiencies (in particular under section 8(2)(d)(ii)) arising from the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (“UK”) from the European Union (“EU”).

These Regulations amend the Public Lending Right Scheme 1982 (the “Scheme”), made by the Secretary of State under the Public Lending Right Act 1979 (c. 10) (the “1979 Act”). The 1979 Act confers a right for authors (known as the public lending right) to receive payments out of a central fund, based on the number of times their books are lent out by public libraries in the United Kingdom. The public lending right is administered in accordance with the Scheme.

Article 5 of the existing Scheme provides that an author who has his or her only or principal home in an EEA State, or (if that author has no home) has been present an EEA State for not less than 12 months out of the preceding 24 months, will be an “eligible person” for the purposes of the Scheme. The term “eligible person” is used to assess whether an author is eligible to register for the public lending right under the Scheme.

The inclusion of UK-resident authors within the definition of eligible persons under the Scheme as currently drafted relies upon the fact that the UK is an EEA State. As the UK will cease to be an EEA State once it leaves the EU, the definition of eligible person under the Scheme will no longer cover UK-resident authors.

Regulation 2 therefore amends the definition of eligible person to ensure UK-resident authors remain eligible to register for the public lending right.

Regulation 1 provides that this amendment comes into force on exit day.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument, as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.