Page:Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act 2021.pdf/154

154 (4) In this section, “election period” means the period—
 * (a) starting the day a writ of election is issued under section 24 of the Parliamentary Elections Act 1954 for the purposes of a general election of Members of Parliament; and
 * (b) ending with the close of polling day at that general election.

Authorised officers

107.—(1) A competent authority may, in relation to any provision of this Act or the Regulations that the competent authority is responsible to administer, appoint as authorised officers for the purposes of that provision—
 * (a) from among public officers; or
 * (b) from among employees of a public authority (except a Town Council) or individuals performing duties in such a public authority.

(2) A competent authority may, for any reason that appears to it to be sufficient, at any time revoke an individual’s appointment as an authorised officer.

(3) A competent authority may delegate the exercise of all or any of the powers conferred or duties imposed upon the competent authority by any provision of this Act or the Regulations (except the power of delegation conferred by this subsection) to an authorised officer; and any reference in the provision of this Act or the Regulations to the competent authority includes a reference to such an authorised officer.

(4) Any delegation under subsection (3) by a competent authority may be general or in a particular case and may be subject to such conditions or limitations as set out in this Act or as the competent authority may specify.

(5) A reference in subsection (1) to an individual performing duties in a public authority is a reference to—
 * (a) an employee of the public authority; or