The scheme

2.—(1) The Commission shall as soon as practicable after this Act comes into operation prepare and lay before the Assembly a scheme for the making of payments to political parties for the purpose mentioned in section 1.

(2) A scheme under this section may in particular—

(a)provide for payments to be of such amounts as are specified in, or determined in accordance with, the scheme;

(b)provide for payments to be made at such times and on such terms and conditions as may be specified in the scheme;

(c)determine the circumstances in which a member of the Assembly and a political party are to be regarded as connected for the purposes of section 1 and the scheme.

(3) The Commission may at any time prepare and lay before the Assembly a revised scheme under this section.

(4) A scheme under this section (or a revised scheme) shall not come into force unless it is approved by a resolution of the Assembly.