Representation of the People Act 2000

Representation of the People Act 2000

2000 CHAPTER 2

Commentary on Sections

Section 11: Revision of Procedures in the Light of Pilot Schemes

45. This section is concerned with the rolling out of innovations that have been successfully piloted.

46. Subsection (1) enables the Secretary of State to make an order providing for an innovation which has been piloted to apply generally and permanently to local elections in England and Wales. Such an order can modify or disapply any provision of primary legislation in relation to the elections to which it will apply.

47. Subsections (2) and (5) provide that an order may exempt particular local government areas from its provisions (and, if it does so, will not be treated as a hybrid instrument for Parliamentary purposes) but, otherwise, must make the same provision throughout England and Wales for all the elections that it relates to.

48. Subsections (3) and (4) provide that an order must be made by statutory instrument which needs to be approved by both Houses of Parliament, and that when laying such an order the Secretary of State must also lay copies of the evaluation report of the relevant pilot scheme(s).

49. Subsection (5) provides that rules made under section 36 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 may make such provision as the Secretary of State considers necessary in connection with any order rolling out a pilot scheme.

50. Subsection (7) provides that nothing in section 11 prejudices the powers contained in other Acts to make secondary legislation relating to elections.