(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act and of the rules made under it, the principles, practice and rules on which committees of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom used to act in dealing with election petitions shall be observed, so far as may be, by the High Court and election courts in relation to election petitions; and in particular the principles and rules with regard to agency and evidence and to a scrutiny, and to the declaring any person elected in the room of any other person declared not to have been duly elected, shall be observed, as far as may be, in relation to a local election petition as in relation to a parliamentary election petition.
(2)The High Court shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, have the same powers, jurisdiction and authority with respect to an election petition and the proceedings thereon as if the petition were an ordinary action within its jurisdiction.
(3)The duties to be performed by the prescribed officer under this Part shall be performed by such officer of the[F1 Court of Judicature] as the Lord Chief Justice may determine, and there may be awarded to such officer, in addition to his salary payable apart from the provisions of this sub-section, such remuneration for the performance of his duties in relation to elections under this Part as the Lord Chief Justice with the consent of the Ministry of FinanceF2 may determine.
F1Words in s. 93(3) substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 59(5), 148(1), Sch. 11 para. 6; S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(d)
F2Now Minister for Civil Service, SI 1973/2163