Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the European Parliamentary Elections (Miscellaneous Provisions) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) Order 2015.

(2) It comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

(3) It extends to each part of the United Kingdom and to Gibraltar.

Amendments to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

2.  The amendments to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000(2) specified in the Schedule have effect.

Transitional provision

3.  Paragraph 5 of the Schedule does not affect the punishment of an offence committed before the day on which this Order comes into force.

Article 2

SCHEDULEAmendments to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

1.  In section 24(8)(b)(3) (office-holders to be registered), for “House of Assembly of Gibraltar” substitute “Gibraltar Parliament”.

2.  In section 54(2A)(4) (permissible donors)—

(a)for paragraph (b) substitute—

“(b)a company—

(i)registered under the Companies Act(5) or the Companies Act 2014(6) (see section 160(6) below), and

(ii)incorporated within Gibraltar, the United Kingdom or another member State,

which carries on business in Gibraltar;”;

(b)in paragraph (d), for “Trade Union and Trade Disputes Act” substitute “Trade Unions and Trade Disputes Act(7)”;

(c)omit paragraph (e);

(d)for paragraph (f) substitute—

“(f)a limited partnership registered under the Limited Partnerships Act(8), which carries on business in Gibraltar;”.

3.  In section 74(3)(9) (officers of registered party with responsibility for campaign expenditure), for “House of Assembly of Gibraltar” substitute “Gibraltar Parliament”.

4.  In section 88 (third parties recognised for the purposes of Part 6 of the 2000 Act) omit subsection (3)(a)(iii)(10).

5.  In section 150(4)(11) (punishment of offences), for “pursuant to section 189 of, and Schedule 6 to, the Criminal Procedure Ordinance” substitute “set out in Part A of Schedule 9 to the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 2011(12) (see section 160(6) below)”.

6.  In section 151(4A)(13) (summary proceedings), for “section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance” substitute “section 158 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 2011 (as to which see section 160(6) below)”.

7.  In section 153(5A)(14) (offences committed by unincorporated associations), for “Sections 124 and 144 of, and Schedule 4 to, the Criminal Procedure Ordinance” substitute “Sections 178, 179 and 296 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 2011 (as to which see section 160(6) below)”.

8.  In section 160(15) (general interpretation)—

(a)in the definition of “Gibraltar elector”, omit paragraph (b) and the word “or” preceding it;

(b)in the definition of “qualified auditor”, for paragraph (b) substitute—

“(b)in the case of a Gibraltar party, a person who is approved as a statutory auditor or audit firm under the Financial Services (Auditors) Act 2009(16) (see subsection (6) below);”;

(c)in subsection (6), for “a named Act” substitute “an Act listed in subsection (7)”;

(d)after subsection (6) insert—

“(7) The Acts referred to in subsection (6) are—

(a)the Companies Act;

(b)the Companies Act 2014;

(c)the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 2011;

(d)the Financial Services (Auditors) Act 2009;

(e)the Limited Partnerships Act;

(f)the Trade Unions and Trade Disputes Act.”

9.  In Schedule 6(17) (details to be given in donation reports)—

(a)omit paragraph 2(2A) and (3A);

(b)in paragraph 2(7), omit “or the Banking (Extension to Building Societies) Act”;

(c)in paragraph 2(8), omit “limited liability”.

10.  In Schedule 6A(18) (details to be given in transaction reports)—

(a)in paragraph 2(7), omit “or which is an existing registered society within the meaning of the Banking (Extension to Building Societies) Act”;

(b)in paragraph 2(8), omit “limited liability”.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order updates the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41) to reflect changes in the law of Gibraltar and makes other miscellaneous amendments to provisions in the 2000 Act that apply in Gibraltar.

The Order updates references to Gibraltar legislation and replaces references to the House of Assembly of Gibraltar with references to the Gibraltar Parliament. It removes references to building societies in Gibraltar, because Gibraltar law has required them to be wound up or converted into companies. It also removes certain transitional provisions that are no longer relevant.

Gibraltar legislation can be obtained from www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi.

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