Section 8 : Powers with respect to elections exercisable only on Commission’s recommendation
48.Section 8 specifies a number of functions of the Secretary of State which will be exercisable only upon the recommendation of the Commission. Subsection (1) provides that one such function is that of giving directions to registration officers under section 52(1) of the Representation of the People Act; hitherto this power has not been exercised. Subsection (3) identifies a number of instrument-making powers to set limitations on expenses by candidates and parties at elections. The Secretary of State is empowered, by subsection (2), to vary the monetary limits to take account of inflation, but any more substantial variation can only be made on a recommendation of the Commission.
49.The extant instruments made under the statutory provisions listed in subsection (3) are:
Article 3 of the Greater London Authority Election (Expenses) Order 2000 (SI 2000/789) sets limits on election expenses by candidates at elections to the Greater London Authority;
Articles 41 and 42 of the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 1999 (SI 1999/787) and Articles 46 to 48 of the National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) Order 1999 (SI 1999/450) set limits on expenses by candidates and registered parties at elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly respectively;
Regulation 15 of the European Parliamentary Elections Regulation 1999 (SI 1999/1214) sets limits on election expenses by registered parties at elections to the European Parliament. Section 76 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 as applied, with modifications, by Schedule 1 to the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 1999 sets limits on election expenses by individual candidates.