31.—(1) A person who communicates with the Chairperson or other member of the Board, the secretary of the Board or a consultant or adviser engaged by the Board F12[or an employee of the Board or a person of whose services the Board has availed itself pursuant to section 35C], for the purpose of influencing improperly the consideration by the Board of an appeal or the decision of the Board in relation to an appeal shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) If the Chairperson or a member, secretary or consultant or adviser F13[or employee of the Board or a person of whose services the Board has availed itself pursuant to section 35C] is of the opinion that a communication is in contravention of subsection (1), he or she shall not entertain the communication further and shall immediately inform the Board in writing of the substance of the communication, and the Board shall acknowledge in writing the receipt of such information.