52 Discharge of registration duties. U.K.
(1)A registration officer shall comply with any general or special directions which may be given by the Secretary of State with respect to the arrangements to be made by the registration officer for carrying out his [F1functions under this Act].
(2)Any of the duties and powers of a registration officer may be performed and exercised by any deputy for the time being approved F2, by the council which appointed the registration officer, and the provisions of this Act apply to any such deputy so far as respects any duties or powers to be performed or exercised by him as they apply to the registration officer.
(3)In England and Wales, any acts authorised or required to be done by or with respect to the registration officer may, in the event of his incapacity to act or of a vacancy, be done by the proper officer of the council by [F3or with respect to] whom the registration officer was appointed.
[F4(4)It shall be the duty—
(a)in England F5. . ., of a district council or London borough council,
[F6(aa)in Wales, of a county or county borough council, and]
(b)in Scotland, of [F7every local authority],
to assign such officers to assist the registration officer as may be required for carrying out his functions under this Act.
(5)Subsection (2) above does not apply in Northern Ireland but sections 14(5) and 14A(2) and (3) of the M1Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (appointment of temporary deputy and delegation to assistants) shall have effect in relation to the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland in his capacity as registration officer.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words substituted by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), s. 24, Sch. 4 para. 12(a)
F2Words repealed by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), ss. 24, 28, Sch. 4 para. 12(b), Sch. 5
F3Words inserted by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), s. 24, Sch. 4 para. 12(c)
F4S. 52(4)(5) substituted by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), s. 24, Sch. 4 para. 12(d)
F5Words in s. 52(4)(a) repealed (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(6)(8), Sch. 16 para. 68(12), Sch. 18 (with ss. 54(4)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 4, Sch. 2
F6S. 52(4)(aa) substituted (1.4.1996) for word by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(6), Sch. 16 para. 68(12) (with ss. 54(4)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 4, Sch. 2
F7Words in s. 52(4)(b) substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 130(5); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 52 applied (E.W.S.) by S.I. 1986/2209, regs. 2, 3, 5(1)(6)–(8), Sch. 1 Pt. I
C2S. 52 applied with modifications (S.) by S.I. 1986/1111, regs. 2, 13(3)(4)(5), Sch. 3 Pt. I
C3S. 52 applied with modifications (E.W.) by S.I. 1986/1081, regs. 2, 14(3)(4)(5), Sch. 3 Pt. I
C4S. 52 applied (17.2.1994) by S.I. 1994/342, regs. 1(2)(3), 2(2), 8(2)(3)
C5S. 52(1) applied with modifications (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/2250, regs. 2, 3, 5, Sch. 1 Pt. I
C6S. 52(1) applied with modifications (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/1091, regs. 2, 14(3)(4)(5), Sch. 3 Pt. I
C7S. 52(4): functions of local authority not to be excercisable by an executive of the authority (E.) (16.11.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/2853, reg. 2(1), Sch. 1 D2
C8S. 52(5) applied with modifications (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/2250, regs. 2, 3, 5, Sch. 1 Pt. I
C9S. 52(5) applied with modifications (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/1091, regs. 2, 14(3)(4)(5), Sch. 3 Pt. I
C10S. 52(5) applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (4.5.1996) by S.I. 1996/1220, art. 3(1)(b)(5)-(8), Sch. 1
Marginal Citations