Representation of the People Act 1983

Northern Ireland: timing of canvass

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Method of questioning parliamentary election.

Appeals and jurisdiction.

Presentation and service of parliamentary election petition.

Report as to candidate guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice.

Avoidance of election for general corruption etc.

Application of Act to certain local elections.

General application to Scotland.

Rules of procedure.

General application to Scotland.

Limitation of pre-candidacy election expenses for certain general elections

Appointment of election agent

*Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith to the Returning Officer for the Constituency Greeting

*The name of the sovereign may be altered when necessary.

*The name of the sovereign may be altered when necessary.

Note.—The forms contained in this Appendix may be adapted so far as circumstances require.

†Whereas by the advice of Our Council We have ordered a Parliament to be holden at Westminster on the day of next We Command you that due notice being first given you do cause election to be made according to law of a Member to serve in Parliament for the said Constituency [‡in the place of ]

Note: in relation to any constituency in Wales, “county” in this form refers to a preserved county (as defined by section 64 of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994).

*State the relationship of the companion to the voter.

Computation of time for purposes of Part III.

General application to Scotland.

I hereby certify, that the Member elected for the Constituency in pursuance of the within written Writ is of in the County of

*The name of the sovereign may be altered when necessary.

†This preamble to be omitted execpt in case of a general election. ‡Except in a general election insert here in the place of A. B., deceased or othewise, stating the cause of vacancy.

And that you do cause the name of such Member when so elected, whether he be present or absent, to be certified to Us in Our Chancery without delay

Returning Officer (or as the case may be.)

*State the relationship of the companion to the voter.

Note: in relation to any constituency in Wales, “county” in this form refers to a preserved county (as defined by section 64 of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994).

*State the relationship of the companion to the voter.

†This preamble to be omitted execpt in case of a general election. ‡Except in a general election insert here in the place of A. B., deceased or othewise, stating the cause of vacancy.

And that you do cause the name of such Member when so elected, whether he be present or absent, to be certified to Us in Our Chancery without delay

Northern Ireland: timing of canvass

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Prosecution of offences committed outside the United Kingdom.

Costs.

Local government provisions as to England and Wales.

Local government provisions as to England and Wales.

Limitation of pre-candidacy election expenses for certain general elections

Incurring of election expenses for purposes of section 90A.

Method of questioning parliamentary election.

The relevant registration objectives (Northern Ireland)

Maintenance of the registers: registration of electors.

Local elections in England and Wales.

General application to Scotland.

Local government provisions as to England and Wales.

Computation of time for purposes of Part III.

Local government provisions as to England and Wales.

†This preamble to be omitted execpt in case of a general election. ‡Except in a general election insert here in the place of A. B., deceased or othewise, stating the cause of vacancy.

Note.—The forms contained in this Appendix may be adapted so far as circumstances require.

Method of questioning parliamentary election.

Computation of time for purposes of Part III.

Local government provisions as to England and Wales.

†This preamble to be omitted execpt in case of a general election. ‡Except in a general election insert here in the place of A. B., deceased or othewise, stating the cause of vacancy.

†Whereas by the advice of Our Council We have ordered a Parliament to be holden at Westminster on the day of next We Command you that due notice being first given you do cause election to be made according to law of a Member to serve in Parliament for the said Constituency [‡in the place of ]

Returning Officer (or as the case may be.)

Returning Officer (or as the case may be.)

*State the relationship of the companion to the voter.

The relevant registration objectives (Northern Ireland)

Maintenance of the registers: registration of electors.

Publication of registers.

Returning officers: local elections in Scotland.

Non-election of local authority etc. in Scotland.

Registration appeals: England and Wales.

Validity of local elections, and legal costs.

Registration appeals: England and Wales.

Personation.

Where no return and declarations needed at parliamentary elections.

Duty of appropriate officer to forward returns and declarations to Electoral Commission.

Scottish local government elections: meaning of “election expenses”

Delivery of documents to registration officer

Independent candidate

*Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith to the Returning Officer for the Constituency Greeting

*The name of the sovereign may be altered when necessary.

*The name of the sovereign may be altered when necessary.

Note.—The forms contained in this Appendix may be adapted so far as circumstances require.

†Whereas by the advice of Our Council We have ordered a Parliament to be holden at Westminster on the day of next We Command you that due notice being first given you do cause election to be made according to law of a Member to serve in Parliament for the said Constituency [‡in the place of ]

Note.—The forms contained in this Appendix may be adapted so far as circumstances require.

Form of directions for the guidance of the voters in voting

*The name of the sovereign may be altered when necessary.

*Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith to the Returning Officer for the Constituency Greeting

*The name of the sovereign may be altered when necessary.

†This preamble to be omitted execpt in case of a general election. ‡Except in a general election insert here in the place of A. B., deceased or othewise, stating the cause of vacancy.

And that you do cause the name of such Member when so elected, whether he be present or absent, to be certified to Us in Our Chancery without delay

*Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith to the Returning Officer for the Constituency Greeting

*The name of the sovereign may be altered when necessary.

Scottish local government elections: meaning of “election expenses”

Costs.

†This preamble to be omitted execpt in case of a general election. ‡Except in a general election insert here in the place of A. B., deceased or othewise, stating the cause of vacancy.

†Whereas by the advice of Our Council We have ordered a Parliament to be holden at Westminster on the day of next We Command you that due notice being first given you do cause election to be made according to law of a Member to serve in Parliament for the said Constituency [‡in the place of ]

†This preamble to be omitted execpt in case of a general election. ‡Except in a general election insert here in the place of A. B., deceased or othewise, stating the cause of vacancy.

†This preamble to be omitted execpt in case of a general election. ‡Except in a general election insert here in the place of A. B., deceased or othewise, stating the cause of vacancy.

And that you do cause the name of such Member when so elected, whether he be present or absent, to be certified to Us in Our Chancery without delay

Returning Officer (or as the case may be.)

Note: in relation to any constituency in Wales, “county” in this form refers to a preserved county (as defined by section 64 of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994).

*State the relationship of the companion to the voter.

Counting of votes: statement by returning officer

53ZA

• (1) In a contested election, if the counting of the votes given on the ballot papers did not begin within the period specified in rule 45(3A) above, the returning officer shall before the expiry of the period of 30 days starting with the day on which the poll closed—

• (a) prepare and publish a statement giving the information specified in paragraph (2) below, and

• (b) deliver it to the Electoral Commission.

• (2) The statement must—

• (a) specify the time at which the counting of the votes given on the ballot papers began,

• (b) describe the steps taken under rule 45(3A) above, and

• (c) explain why the counting of the votes given on the ballot papers did not start within the period specified in rule 45(3A) above.

• (3) Where a statement is delivered to the Electoral Commission under paragraph (1)(b) above, the Commission shall specify in any election report they produce that a statement has been delivered to them under that paragraph in respect of the constituency to which the statement relates.

• (4) In paragraph (3) above “election report” means a report under section 5(1) or (2A) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 in relation to the parliamentary election in question.

Power to vary provisions about election expenses.

Returning Officer (or as the case may be.)

*State the relationship of the companion to the voter.

5A

In paragraphs 1 and 2 “local authority” has the meaning given by section 579(1) of the Education Act 1996.

199ZA

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

To the Returning Officer for the Constituency.

*State the relationship of the companion to the voter.

...

Returning Officer (or as the case may be.)

Returning Officer (or as the case may be.)

1A

• (1) Provision authorising or requiring a person to disclose information to another person for the purpose of assisting a registration officer ...—

• (a) to verify information relating to a person within sub-paragraph (1A),

• (b) to ascertain the names and addresses of people who are not registered but who are entitled to be registered, or

• (c) to identify those people who are registered but who are not entitled to be registered.

• (1A) The following persons are within this sub-paragraph—

• (a) a person who is registered in a register maintained by the registration officer;

• (b) a person who is named in—

• (i) an application for registration in, or alteration of, a register,

• (ii) an application (including a partially completed application) under section 13BD, 13BE or 13C, or

• (iii) a relevant absent voting application.

• (1B) In sub-paragraph (1A)(b)(i), the reference to an application for registration in, or alteration of, a register includes a reference to a partially completed application submitted through the UK digital service.

• (2) Provision made under sub-paragraph (1) may authorise or require the person to whom the information is disclosed—

• (a) to compare it with other information;

• (b) to disclose the results of the comparison to a registration officer for the purpose mentioned in that sub-paragraph.

• (3) The provision that may be made under sub-paragraph (1) or (2) includes provision—

• (a) conferring other functions on a person;

• (b) authorising the Secretary of State to make grants to a person on whom functions are conferred;

• (c) authorising a person to disclose or otherwise process information only in accordance with an agreement;

• (d) authorising or requiring a person to disclose or otherwise process information only in accordance with requirements imposed by the Secretary of State;

• (e) regulating the manner in which information is disclosed;

• (f) requiring the retention or disposal, or otherwise regulating the processing, of information disclosed.

• (4) Provision made under this paragraph has effect despite any statutory or other restriction on the disclosure of information.

• (5) In this paragraph “processing” has the same meaning as in Parts 5 to 7 of the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3(4) and (14) of that Act).

• (6) In sub-paragraph (1), the reference to disclosing information includes, in relation to verifying information relating to a person who is named in a relevant registration application or a relevant absent voting application, references to disclosing evidence provided by a person in connection with the application.

• (7) In this paragraph—

• (a) “relevant absent voting application” means—

• (i) an application (including a partially completed application) under paragraph 3, 4 or 6 of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000, other than an application in relation to a local government election, or local government elections, in Scotland or Wales, or

• (ii) an application (including a partially completed application) under section 6, 7 or 8 of the Representation of the People Act 1985;

• (b) “relevant registration application” means an application (including a partially completed application) for registration in, or alteration of—

• (i) a register of parliamentary electors, or

• (ii) a register of local government electors in England,

and includes a form (or partially completed form) in connection with a canvass under section 10;

• (c) “the UK digital service” means a digital service provided by a Minister of the Crown for the registration of electors, and the reference in sub-paragraph (1B) to an application submitted through the UK digital service is a reference to an application submitted using that service as an intermediary.

• (8) A notice, including a partially completed notice, under section 8(9) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (cancellation of proxy appointment) is to be treated as a relevant absent voting application for the purposes of this paragraph.

8C

• (1) Provision requiring the retention or disposal, or otherwise regulating the processing, of—

• (a) information provided in an application under section 10ZC, 10ZD , 10A, 13BD, 13BE or 13C;

• (b) information provided to a person in accordance with a requirement imposed by a registration officer ... under provision made by virtue of paragraph 1(2);

• (c) information provided to a person by virtue of provision made under paragraph 3ZA , 3A or 8BA.

• (2) In this paragraph “processing” has the same meaning as in Parts 5 to 7 of the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3(4) and (14) of that Act).

7A

• (1) Any matter that is reasonably attributable to the candidate’s disability, to the extent that the expenses in respect of the matter are reasonably incurred.

• (2) In this paragraph “disability”:

• (a) in relation to a candidate standing for election in England, Wales or Scotland, has the same meaning as in section 6 of the Equality Act 2010;

• (b) in relation to a candidate standing for election in Northern Ireland, has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

• (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Publication of registers.

Returning officers: local elections in Scotland.

Power of convener of Electoral Management Board to postpone election

Reports on voter identification requirements in Great Britain

A writ of a new election of a Member for the said Constituency.

I hereby certify, that the Member elected for the Constituency in pursuance of the within written Writ is of in the County of

Returning Officer (or as the case may be.)

...

18AA

• (1) Every constituency in Northern Ireland is to be divided into polling districts.

• (2) The Secretary of State must—

• (a) divide Northern Ireland into polling districts for the purpose of parliamentary elections, and

• (b) keep the polling districts under review.

• (3) The Secretary of State must seek to ensure that all electors in Northern Ireland have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances.

• (4) Before dividing Northern Ireland into polling districts under subsection (2)(a) or completing a review under subsection (2)(b), the Secretary of State must consult—

• (a) the Electoral Commission, and

• (b) any other person the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

• (5) If an alteration of polling districts is made under this section—

• (a) the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland must make such adaptations of the registers of parliamentary electors maintained by that officer as are necessary to take account of the alteration, and

• (b) the alteration is effective on the date on which the Chief Electoral Officer publishes a notice stating that the adaptations have been made.

18CA

• (1) The Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland must, during each compulsory review year, carry out and complete a review under section 18B of all the polling places in Northern Ireland.

• (2) The compulsory review years are 2014 and every fifth year after that.

• (3) Subsection (1) does not prevent the Chief Electoral Officer carrying out a review under section 18B of some or all of the polling places in Northern Ireland at other times.

• (4) Subsection (1) does not require the Chief Electoral Officer to carry out and complete a review of all the polling places in Northern Ireland during a compulsory review year if reviews under section 18B of all those polling places are completed during the previous year.

• (5) Schedule A1, except paragraphs 2 and 3, has effect in relation to a review under section 18B of polling places in Northern Ireland.

Ordinary day of local elections in Wales

13AB

• (1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply in relation to an interim publication date where—

• (a) at any time before the interim publication date, section 13A applies to a registration officer (by virtue of section 13A(1)) in connection with a determination, requirement or decision within section 13A(1)(za), (zb), (b), (c) or (d),

• (b) in consequence of the determination, requirement or decision an entry relating to a person falls to be made in (or removed from) the register in respect of an address in the relevant election area, and

• (c) no alteration made in consequence of the determination, requirement or decision has already taken effect, or is due to take effect, under a relevant provision on or before the interim publication date.

• (2) On the interim publication date the registration officer must issue, in the prescribed manner, a notice specifying the appropriate alteration in the register.

• (3) The alteration takes effect from the beginning of the interim publication date.

• (4) There are two interim publication dates (in relation to a registration officer and an election to which this section applies).

• (5) The first interim publication date is the last day on which nomination papers may be delivered to the returning officer for the purposes of the election.

• (6) The second interim publication date is to be determined by the registration officer, but must be a day after the first interim publication date and before the appropriate publication date.

• (7) In subsection (1)(c) “relevant provision” means—

• (a) in relation to the first interim publication date, section 13A(2) or 13BC(3) or (6);

• (b) in relation to the second interim publication date—

• (i) section 13A(2);

• (ii) section 13BC(3) or (6);

• (iii) subsection (3) of this section as it applies in relation to the first interim publication date.

• (7A) In determining for the purposes of subsection (1)(c) whether an alteration made in consequence of the determination, requirement or decision is due to take effect under section 13BC(3) on or before the interim publication date, the reference to section 13AB in section 13BC(2) is to be disregarded.

• (8) This section applies to—

• (a) parliamentary elections in England, Wales or Scotland;

• (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (c) elections to the Scottish Parliament;

• (d) elections to the National Assembly for Wales;

• (e) local government elections in England, Wales or Scotland;

• (f) elections of police and crime commissioners in England and Wales.

• (9) Subsections (5) and (6) of section 13B apply for the purposes of this section as they apply for the purposes of that section.

• (10) Subsection (2) does not require a registration officer to issue a notice under that subsection in a case where section 13BC(3) or (6) requires the officer to issue a notice under that provision at an earlier time.

29A

• (1) This section applies to a service rendered by a returning officer for or in connection with a parliamentary election in Great Britain which, in the opinion of the Electoral Commission, was inadequately performed.

• (2) The Commission may recommend to the Secretary of State that the returning officer is entitled under section 29(3) to no more than a specified amount (which may be nil) in respect of that service.

• (3) In making a recommendation under subsection (2), the Commission must have regard to—

• (a) any report prepared under section 5 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 on the administration of the parliamentary election concerned,

• (b) any assessments of the level of performance of the returning officer in relation to that election under section 9B(4) of that Act,

• (c) any representations made to the Commission by the returning officer in respect of the performance of the service, and

• (d) any other information relating to the performance of the service by the returning officer that has been provided to the Commission.

• (4) Where the Commission makes a recommendation under subsection (2), the returning officer is entitled under section 29(3) to no more than the amount (which may be nil) determined by the Secretary of State, having regard to the recommendation by the Commission.

To the Returning Officer for the Constituency.

...

13CZA

• (1) A person commits an offence if the person provides false information in connection with—

• (a) an application under section 13BD for an electoral identity document,

• (b) an application under section 13BE for an anonymous elector’s document, or

• (c) an application under section 13C for an electoral identity card.

• (2) In relation to a signature, “false information” for the purposes of subsection (1) means a signature which—

• (a) is not the usual signature of, or

• (b) was written by a person other than,

the person whose signature it purports to be.

• (3) A person does not commit an offence under subsection (1) if the person did not know, and had no reason to suspect, that the information was false.

• (4) Where sufficient evidence is adduced to raise an issue with respect to the defence under subsection (3), the court must assume that the defence is satisfied unless the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that it is not.

• (5) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable—

• (a) on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or a fine (or both);

• (b) on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);

• (c) on summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (or both).

• (6) In relation to an offence committed before section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 comes into force, the reference in subsection (5)(a) to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to six months.

9D

• (1) Each registration officer in Great Britain must conduct an annual canvass in relation to the area for which the officer acts.

• (2) The purpose of the canvass is to ascertain—

• (a) the names and addresses of persons who are entitled to be registered in a register maintained by the officer but who are not registered;

• (b) those persons who are registered in such a register but who are not entitled to be registered.

• (3) The canvass is to be conducted in a manner to be set out in regulations.

• (4) The regulations may confer functions on the Electoral Commission (for example, the Commission may be required to design a canvass form or, except for the purposes of a register of local government electors in Scotland or Wales, one or more canvass communications).

• (5) A registration officer may make house to house inquiries for the purposes of the canvass, for example—

• (a) to obtain information before sending out a canvass form or communication,

• (aa) except for the purposes of a register of local government electors in Scotland or Wales, to obtain the information required by a canvass form,

• (b) to supplement information provided on a canvass form or communication, or

• (c) to obtain information where no canvass form or communication is returned.

• (6) Nothing in this section applies in relation to—

• (a) the registration of persons in respect of residence in penal institutions (within the meaning of section 3) or mental hospitals (within the meaning of section 7) or other places at which persons to whom section 7A applies may be detained,

• (b) the registration of persons in pursuance of declarations of local connection, service declarations or overseas electors' declarations, or

• (c) the registration of persons with anonymous entries in the register.

9E

• (1) A registration officer in Great Britain must give a person an invitation to apply for registration in a register maintained by the officer if—

• (a) the officer is aware of the person's name and address,

• (b) the person is not registered in the register, and

• (c) the officer has reason to believe that the person may be entitled to be registered in the register.

• (2) Regulations may make provision about invitations under subsection (1), including—

• (a) provision about the form and contents of invitations;

• (b) provision about the giving of invitations (for example, provision about the manner in which they must be given or how often they must be given);

• (c) provision requiring invitations to be accompanied by, or combined with, application forms or other documents (including partially completed application forms).

• (3) Regulations under subsection (2) may confer functions on the Electoral Commission (for example, the Commission may be required to design an invitation).

• (4) A registration officer who gives a person an invitation under subsection (1) may subsequently require the person to make an application for registration by a specified date.

• (5) A requirement under subsection (4) is of no effect if the person is not entitled to be registered.

• (6) Regulations—

• (a) may make provision about requirements under subsection (4) (including provision for them to be cancelled in specified circumstances);

• (b) may specify steps that a registration officer must take before imposing a requirement.

• (7) A registration officer may impose a civil penalty on a person who fails to comply with a requirement imposed by the officer under subsection (4).

• (7A) In relation to the registration of local government electors in Scotland, subsection (7) does not apply to a person who was under the age of 16 at the time the requirement was imposed.

• (7A) In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, subsection (7) does not apply to a person who was under the age of 16 at the time the requirement was imposed.

• (8) For more about civil penalties under this section, see Schedule ZA1.

The relevant registration objectives (Northern Ireland)

10ZC

• (1) A registration officer in Great Britain must enter a person (“P”) in a register maintained by the officer if—

• (a) an application for registration is made by someone who appears to the officer to be P,

• (b) any requirements imposed by or under this Act in relation to the application are met, and

• (c) P appears to the officer to be entitled to be registered in the register.

• (2) In determining an application under this section, the officer must consider any objection made in accordance with the prescribed requirements by another person whose name appears in the register.

• (3) Regulations may make provision about the procedure for determining applications under this section.

• (4) The power to make regulations under this section—

• (a) so far as it is exercisable by a Minister of the Crown to make provision about a UK digital service in relation to elections in Scotland, is exercisable by the Scottish Ministers concurrently with that Minister, and

• (b) so far as it is exercisable by a Minister of the Crown to make provision about a UK digital service in relation to elections in Wales, is exercisable by the Welsh Ministers concurrently with that Minister.

• (5) The power of the Scottish Ministers to make regulations by virtue of subsection (4) is exercisable in the same ways and subject to the same provisions as their power to make other regulations under this section, except that—

• (a) the power is not exercisable without the agreement of a Minister of the Crown, and

• (b) regulations made in exercise of the power are subject to the negative procedure.

• (5A) The power of the Welsh Ministers to make regulations by virtue of subsection (4) is not exercisable without the agreement of a Minister of the Crown.

• (5B) A statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Welsh Ministers by virtue of subsection (4) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.

• (6) In this section—

• “election in Scotland” means—an election for membership of the Scottish Parliament, ora local government election in Scotland;

• “election in Wales” means— an election of Assembly members, ora local government election in Wales;

• “UK digital service” means a digital service provided by a Minister of the Crown for the registration of electors.

10ZD

• (1) A registration officer in Great Britain must alter the name or address in respect of which a person (“P”) is registered in a register maintained by the officer if—

• (a) an application for alteration is made by someone who appears to the officer to be P,

• (b) any requirements imposed by or under this Act in relation to the application are met, and

• (c) P appears to the officer to be entitled to be registered in the register in respect of the new name or the new address (as the case may be).

• (2) In determining an application under this section, the officer must consider any objection made in accordance with the prescribed requirements by another person whose name appears in the register.

• (3) Regulations may make provision about the procedure for determining applications under this section.

• (4) The power to make regulations under this section—

• (a) so far as it is exercisable by a Minister of the Crown to make provision about a UK digital service in relation to elections in Scotland, is exercisable by the Scottish Ministers concurrently with that Minister, and

• (b) so far as it is exercisable by a Minister of the Crown to make provision about a UK digital service in relation to elections in Wales, is exercisable by the Welsh Ministers concurrently with that Minister.

• (5) The power of the Scottish Ministers to make regulations by virtue of subsection (4) is exercisable in the same ways and subject to the same provisions as their power to make other regulations under this section, except that—

• (a) the power is not exercisable without the agreement of a Minister of the Crown, and

• (b) regulations made in exercise of the power are subject to the negative procedure.

• (5A) The power of the Welsh Ministers to make regulations by virtue of subsection (4) is not exercisable without the agreement of a Minister of the Crown.

• (5B) A statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Welsh Ministers by virtue of subsection (4) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.

• (6) In this section “election in Scotland”, “election in Wales” and “UK digital service” have the same meaning as in section 10ZC.

10ZE