51.Section 10 empowers the Commission to provide advice and assistance to local authorities, the devolved administrations and international bodies. Under this provision the Commission could, for example, provide assistance to the National Assembly for Wales with the conduct of a poll under section 36 of the Government of Wales Act 1998, to the Scottish Executive with a review of aspects of the law in respect of local elections in Scotland and to the United Nations or the Commonwealth with the organisation or monitoring of elections in another member state.
52.Subsection (3) also enables the Commission to provide advice and assistance to registration and returning officers, registered political parties, recognised third parties (within the meaning of section 88), permitted participants in a referendum campaign (within the meaning of section 105), and others. The Commission is expected to take over from the Home Office the functions of promoting best practice in the way in which registration and returning officers discharge their functions under the Representation of the People Acts and other enactments relating to elections.
Commentary on Sections Commission’s general functions Section 10 : Giving of advice and assistance