Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

16 (1) Section 10 of the Representation of the People Act 2000 (pilot schemes) is amended as follows.

(2) After subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) Subsection (1) applies to proposals falling within that subsection which are submitted by a relevant local authority jointly with the Electoral Commission as if in that subsection—

(a) the first reference to any such authority in paragraph (a), and

(b) the reference to the authority in paragraph (b)(ii),

were each a reference to the authority and the Commission; and, in a case where any such proposals are not jointly so submitted, the Secretary of State must consult the Commission before making an order under that subsection.”

(3) In subsection (5)(a), after “the authority concerned” insert “and to the Electoral Commission”.

(4) In subsection (6), for “the authority concerned” substitute “the Electoral Commission”.

(5) After subsection (6) insert—

“(6A) The report shall be prepared by the Electoral Commission in consultation with the authority concerned; and that authority shall provide the Commission with such assistance as they may reasonably require in connection with the preparation of the report (which may, in particular, include the making by the authority of arrangements for ascertaining the views of voters about the operation of the scheme).”

(6) In subsection (7), after “The report shall” insert “, in particular,”.

(7) For subsection (10) substitute—

“(10) Once the Electoral Commission have prepared the report, they shall send a copy of the report—

(a) to the Secretary of State, and

(b) to the authority concerned,

and that authority shall publish the report in their area, in such manner as they think fit, by the end of the period of three months beginning with the date of the declaration of the result of the elections in question.”