Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

18 Transfer of functions of Local Government Commission for England

(1) The Secretary of State may by order make provision for and in connection with transferring (to any extent) to—

(a) the Commission, or

(b) the Boundary Committee for England,

any of the functions of the Local Government Commission for England (in this section referred to as “the English Commission”).

(2) An order under subsection (1) may make provision for—

(a) transferring (to any extent) any relevant function of the Secretary of State to the Commission;

(b) terminating (to any extent) any relevant function of the Secretary of State or the English Commission without transferring it to the Commission or the Boundary Committee for England;

(c) modifying (to any extent) any relevant function of the Secretary of State;

(d) preventing the Secretary of State from exercising any relevant function (including one so modified) unless he has sought and obtained such advice of the Commission as may be prescribed by the order, or authorising him to seek such advice in connection with the exercise of any such function;

(e) modifying any relevant or other function transferred by an order under subsection (1) so far as it is to be exercisable by the Commission or the Boundary Committee for England;

(f) conferring on the Commission functions with respect to electoral areas or other electoral arrangements relating to the Isles of Scilly.

(3) In subsection (2) “relevant function” means (subject to subsection (4)) a function under—

(a) any of sections 13 to 15 and 17 of the [1992 c. 19.] Local Government Act 1992 (local government changes in England),

(b) any of sections 13, 14 and 17(4) of the [1997 c. 29.] Local Government and Rating Act 1997 (parishes and parish councils) so far as having effect in relation to electoral arrangements within the meaning of Part II of that Act, or

(c) section 2(4) of the [1999 c. 29.] Greater London Authority Act 1999 or Schedule 1 to that Act (assembly constituencies).

(4) Nothing in subsection (2) authorises the transfer to the Commission of any power of the Secretary of State under any of the provisions mentioned in subsection (3)(a) to make orders other than those effecting electoral changes within the meaning of Part II of the [1992 c. 19.] Local Government Act 1992; but, subject to that, the functions which may be transferred by virtue of subsection (2) include functions with respect to the making of orders by statutory instrument.

(5) The provision made by order under subsection (1) as respects the distribution of functions between the Commission and the Boundary Committee for England shall broadly correspond to that made by Part I of Schedule 3 as respects the distribution of functions between those bodies.

(6) The English Commission shall cease to exist at such time as the Secretary of State, being satisfied that they have no further functions to perform, by order directs.

(7) An order under subsection (1) or (6) may include provision for the transfer to the Commission—

(a) of the staff of the English Commission, and

(b) of any property, rights and liabilities to which the English Commission are entitled or subject;

and an order which contains provision such as is mentioned in paragraph (b) may in particular provide for the order to have effect despite any provision (of whatever nature) which would prevent or restrict the transfer of the property, rights or liabilities otherwise than by the order.

(8) An order under subsection (6) may include provision for the abolition of any duty in compliance with which the English Commission were established or constituted.

(9) The Secretary of State may pay to the Commission such amount as he may determine to be appropriate by way of reimbursement for any expenditure incurred by them which is attributable to the provision by them of advice to the Secretary of State in pursuance of an order under subsection (1).