Part 5: Power to make supplementary provision etc by order
255.Paragraph 16 gives the Secretary of State the power to make orders that are supplemental to, consequential on or incidental to this Schedule. Such provisions may include transitional provision. This includes the power to amend, repeal or revoke any enactment.
256.Paragraph 17 sets out the consultation process that the Secretary of State must carry out prior to making a supplementary order under paragraph 16. As part of this process the Electoral Commission must be consulted, along with other persons that the Secretary of State considers appropriate. Under sub-paragraph (2) further consultation is required where, following the outcome of the initial consultation, it is apparent that substantial changes to an order will be necessary. Any consultations which are conducted prior to the commencement of this Schedule may count for these purposes.
257.Paragraph 18 sets out the details of what can be included in a supplementary order regarding the Commission’s power to impose financial sanctions, including fixed monetary penalties, variable monetary penalties and non-compliance penalties. In particular, provision made by virtue of this paragraph may include detail about early payment discounts, late payment penalties, late payment interest and enforcement.
258.Paragraph 19 sets out the details of what can be included in a supplementary order in relation to enforcement undertakings. The order may include a wide range of detail about procedural matters relating to undertakings, for example, how undertakings are entered into and in what circumstances undertakings are regarded as having been complied with.
259.Paragraph 20 states that a supplementary order may extend the time available to institute criminal proceedings against a person in certain instances. The first of these is where a non-monetary discretionary requirement (but no variable monetary penalty) has been imposed and the person has failed to comply with the non-monetary discretionary requirement. The second is where there has been a breach of all or part of an enforcement undertaking.
260.Paragraph 21 allows a supplementary order to set out the details of the appeals process in relation to the imposition of a requirement or the service of a notice under this Schedule. Such an order may include provision conferring relevant powers on courts (for example, to withdraw the requirement or notice against which there is an appeal).