European Assembly Elections Act 1978

4 (1) In England and Wales the returning officer for an Assembly election in any Assembly constituency shall be the person who is the returning officer for parliamentary elections for such one of the parliamentary constituencies wholly or partly comprised in that Assembly constituency as may be designated in an order made by the Secretary of State.

(2) In Scotland the returning officer for an Assembly election shall be—

(a) in the case of an Assembly constituency wholly situated in one region or islands area, the person who under section 6 of the [1973 c. 65.] Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 is, or may discharge the functions of, the returning officer at elections of councillors for the council of that region or islands area;

(b) in the case of an Assembly constituency situated in more than one region or islands area, such person as aforesaid as the Secretary of State may by order direct.

(3) In Northern Ireland the Chief Electoral Officer shall be the returning officer for every Assembly election.

(4) The council of a local government area wholly or partly situated in an Assembly constituency in England, Wales or Scotland shall place the services of their officers at the disposal of the returning officer for that Assembly constituency for the purpose of assisting him in the discharge of any functions conferred on him in relation to an Assembly election in that Assembly constituency.

(5) In this paragraph " local government area" means—

(a) in England and Wales, a district or London borough;

(b) in Scotland, a region, islands area or district.