Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2017 and comes into force on 6th March 2017.

(2) In this Order, "the Scheme" means the policy development grants scheme set out in the Schedule to the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) Order 2006(2).

Amendments to the policy development grants scheme

2.  The amendments to the Scheme set out in the Schedule have effect for the purpose of the making by the Electoral Commission of policy development grants on or after 1st April 2017.

Article 2

SCHEDULEAmendment to the Scheme

1.  The Scheme is amended as follows.

2.  In paragraph 1(2) (citation and commencement)-

(a)at the appropriate places insert-

""electoral register" means a register of parliamentary electors maintained in accordance with section 9(1)(a) of the Representation of the People Act 1983(3);";

""relevant register" means the version of an electoral register published (in accordance with section 13 of the Representation of the People Act 1983(4)) most recently before 1st February preceding the beginning of the year in question;";

(b)for the definition of "UK electorate" substitute-

""UK electorate", in relation to the year ending on 31st March 2018 and any later year, means such number published by the Commission not later than 7th March preceding the beginning of the year in question as is calculated by the Commission to be equal to the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales;".

3.  In paragraph 5 (allocation between eligible parties), for "shall" substitute "is to".

4.  In paragraph 6 (initial attributions)-

(a)in sub-paragraph (1), for "shall" substitute "is to";

(b)for sub-paragraph (2), substitute-

"(2) In sub-paragraph (1), "the relevant number", in relation to the year ending on 31st March 2018 and any later year, means-

(a)for England, such number published by the Commission not later than 7th March preceding the beginning of the year in question as is calculated by the Commission to be equal to the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in England;

(b)for Northern Ireland, such number published by the Commission not later than 7th March preceding the beginning of the year in question as is calculated by the Commission to be equal to the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in Northern Ireland;

(c)for Scotland, such number published by the Commission not later than 7th March preceding the beginning of the year in question as is calculated by the Commission to be equal to the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in Scotland;

(d)for Wales, such number published by the Commission not later than 7th March preceding the beginning of the year in question as is calculated by the Commission to be equal to the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in Wales.".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Policy Development Grants Scheme 2006 ("the Scheme") as set out in the Schedule to the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/602) for the year ending 31st March 2018 and subsequent years.

Paragraph 2 amends the definition of "UK electorate" in paragraph 1(2) of the Scheme, which makes provision in relation to part of the information to be used by the Electoral Commission in its calculations under the Scheme. Paragraph 4(b) makes a similar amendment to the definition of "the relevant number" in paragraph 6(2) of the Scheme.

Paragraphs 3 and 4(a) make substitutions which ensure consistent use of the term "is to" throughout the Scheme, following amendments previously made by the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/164).

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.