198.Section 102 defines the referendum period for any referendum to which Part VII applies. The period is relevant, in particular, to the restrictions on incurring expenses as provided for in sections 117 and 118 and Schedule 14. It is expected that the relevant period for any particular referendum will normally begin on the day the Bill providing for the referendum is introduced in Parliament, and end with the date of the poll. Under these provisions, the referendum period for the 1997 devolution referendum in Scotland would have commenced on 15 May 1997 (the date the Scotland and Wales (Referendum) Bill was introduced) and would have ended on 11 September 1997 (the date of the poll) - a total of 119 days.
Commentary on Sections Part VII : Referendums Section 102: Referendum period