Scottish Elections (Reform) Act 2020

Examination and audit: devolved Scottish elections

17 Electoral Commission: five-year plan

(1) Schedule 1 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (the Electoral Commission) is amended as follows.

(2) After paragraph 15 insert—

“Five-year plan: devolved Scottish elections

15A(1) At the same time as the Commission submit to the Speaker’s Committee a plan under paragraph 15(1), the Commission must also submit the plan to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (in this paragraph, the “SPCB”).

(2) The SPCB—

(a) must examine each plan submitted to it in so far as the plan relates to the Commission’s devolved Scottish functions,

(b) must decide whether it is satisfied that the plan is consistent with the economical, efficient and effective discharge by the Commission of their devolved Scottish functions, and

(c) if it is not so satisfied, may recommend such modifications to the plan as it considers appropriate for the purpose of achieving such consistency.

(3) The SPCB must, after concluding its examination and making its recommendations (if any) under sub-paragraph (2) in relation to a plan—

(a) report to the Speaker’s Committee on its findings and its recommendations (if any), and

(b) as soon as reasonably practicable after the plan is laid by the Speaker’s Committee under paragraph 15(4)—

(i) lay the plan before the Scottish Parliament, and

(ii) if the SPCB made any recommendations for modifications to the plan under sub-paragraph (2), lay before the Scottish Parliament a document describing its reasons for making the recommendations.”.

18 Accounts and accounting officer

(1) Schedule 1 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (the Electoral Commission) is amended as follows.

(2) After paragraph 18(2) insert—

“(3) As soon as is reasonably practicable after the Comptroller and Auditor General has certified the Commission’s accounts and laid a copy of the accounts as so certified before each House of Parliament under sub-paragraph (2), the Commission must—

(a) submit a copy of the accounts as so certified to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, and

(b) lay a copy of the accounts as so certified before the Scottish Parliament.”.

(3) In paragraph 19(4), after “Speaker’s Committee” insert “, the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body”.