Part I

The Electoral Commission

Examination of Commission’s duty to have regard to strategy and policy statement

Examination of duty to have regard to strategy and policy statement
13ZA
1
The Speaker’s Committee may examine the performance by the Commission of the Commission’s duty under section 4B(2) (duty to have regard to strategy and policy statement).
2
The Speaker’s Committee may require the Commission to provide the Committee with information that—
a
the Committee require for the purposes of enabling them to exercise their power under
subsection (1)
, and
b
is held by the Commission.
3
The Commission—
a
must as soon as is reasonably practicable provide the Speaker’s Committee with information required under subsection (2), and
b
must provide the information in such form as the Committee may reasonably require.
4
A requirement imposed on the Commission under subsection (2) does not require the Commission to provide information that, in their opinion, might adversely affect any current investigation or proceedings.
5
Except as provided by subsection
(6)
, the disclosure of information pursuant to a requirement imposed under subsection (2) does not breach—
a
any obligation of confidence owed by the Commission, or
b
any other restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).
6
A requirement imposed on the Commission under subsection (2) does not require them to disclose information if to do so would contravene the data protection legislation (but, in determining whether a disclosure would do so, the requirement imposed on the Commission is to be taken into account).
7
In subsection (6), “
the data protection legislation
” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3(9) of that Act).
S. 13ZA and cross-heading inserted (19.8.2022) by Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), ss. 17(1), 67(1); S.I. 2022/908, reg. 2