(1) A person who has been a relevant designated public official shall not -

(a) carry on lobbying activities in circumstances to which this section applies, or

(b) be employed by, or provide services to, a person carrying on lobbying activities in such circumstances,

during the relevant period except with the prior consent of the Commission and, where that consent is subject to conditions under subsection (5)(a)(i)(II), in accordance with its terms.

(2) In this section -

"relevant designated public official" means a person who is a designated public official by virtue of paragraph (a), (e) or (f) of section 6(1);

"relevant period" means the period of one year beginning with the day on which the person ceases to be a relevant designated public official.

(3) The circumstances to which this section applies are any in which the making of the communications comprising the carrying on of lobbying activities -