The Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2017

Made: 6th February 2017

Laid before Parliament: 8th February 2017

Coming into force: 6th March 2017

The Minister for the Cabinet Office, in exercise of the power conferred by section 12(6) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000[^f00001], makes the following Order, which gives effect to the recommendations submitted to him by the Electoral Commission for variations to the scheme for the making by the Commission of policy development grants.

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1

• (1) This Order may be cited as the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2017 and comes into force on 6th March 2017.

• (2) In this Order, “the Scheme” means the policy development grants scheme set out in the Schedule to the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) Order 2006[^f00002].

Amendments to the policy development grants scheme

2

The amendments to the Scheme set out in the Schedule have effect for the purpose of the making by the Electoral Commission of policy development grants on or after 1st April 2017.

SCHEDULE — Amendment to the Scheme

1

The Scheme is amended as follows.

2

In paragraph 1(2) (citation and commencement)—

• (a) at the appropriate places insert—

• “electoral register” means a register of parliamentary electors maintained in accordance with section 9(1)(a) of the Representation of the People Act 1983[^f00003];

• “relevant register” means the version of an electoral register published (in accordance with section 13 of the Representation of the People Act 1983[^f00004]) most recently before 1st February preceding the beginning of the year in question;

• (b) for the definition of “UK electorate” substitute—

• “UK electorate”, in relation to the year ending on 31st March 2018 and any later year, means such number published by the Commission not later than 7th March preceding the beginning of the year in question as is calculated by the Commission to be equal to the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales;

3

In paragraph 5 (allocation between eligible parties), for “shall” substitute “is to”.

4

In paragraph 6 (initial attributions)—

• (a) in sub-paragraph (1), for “shall” substitute “is to”;

• (b) for sub-paragraph (2), substitute—

(2) In sub-paragraph (1), “the relevant number”, in relation to the year ending on 31st March 2018 and any later year, means— (a) for England, such number published by the Commission not later than 7th March preceding the beginning of the year in question as is calculated by the Commission to be equal to the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in England; (b) for Northern Ireland, such number published by the Commission not later than 7th March preceding the beginning of the year in question as is calculated by the Commission to be equal to the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in Northern Ireland; (c) for Scotland, such number published by the Commission not later than 7th March preceding the beginning of the year in question as is calculated by the Commission to be equal to the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in Scotland; (d) for Wales, such number published by the Commission not later than 7th March preceding the beginning of the year in question as is calculated by the Commission to be equal to the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in Wales.

Signed

Chris Skidmore — Minister for the Constitution — Cabinet Office — 6th February 2017

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Order amends the Policy Development Grants Scheme 2006 (“the Scheme”) as set out in the Schedule to the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/602) for the year ending 31st March 2018 and subsequent years.

Paragraph 2 amends the definition of “UK electorate” in paragraph 1(2) of the Scheme, which makes provision in relation to part of the information to be used by the Electoral Commission in its calculations under the Scheme. Paragraph 4(b) makes a similar amendment to the definition of “the relevant number” in paragraph 6(2) of the Scheme.

Paragraphs 3 and 4(a) make substitutions which ensure consistent use of the term “is to” throughout the Scheme, following amendments previously made by the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/164).

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2000 c. 41. The powers under section 12 are conferred on “the Secretary of State”, which is defined under section 159A of the Act as meaning the Secretary of State or the Minister for the Cabinet Office. Section 159A of the Act was amended by the Transfer of Functions (Elections, Referendums, Third Sector and Information) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/997), article 3 and Schedule 1, and paragraph 15(b) of Schedule 2.

[^f00002]: S.I. 2006/602 as amended by S.I. 2014/556, S.I. 2015/302 and S.I. 2016/164.

[^f00003]: 1983 c. 2. Section 9 was substituted by the Representation of the People Act 2000 (c. 2), Schedule 1, paragraph 3. There are other amendments to section 9 which are not relevant to this Order

[^f00004]: Section 13 was substituted by the Representation of the People Act 2000, Schedule 1, paragraph 6. Section 13(1) was substituted by the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 33), section 5(1). Section 13(1A) was inserted by the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 (c. 12), section 23(2). There are other amendments to section 13 which are not relevant to this Order.