Explanatory note

This Order approves Rules of the Health Professions Council which provide for an election scheme to elect the registrant and alternate members of the Health Professions Council. A registrant member and an alternate member is to be appointed in respect of each part of the register maintained by the Health Professions Council, and generally that will be the candidate who polls the most votes in respect of each contested vacancy. However, there is also a requirement derived from paragraph 2(2)(c) of Schedule 1 to the Health Professions Order 2001 that, of the registrant and alternate members, at least one member shall be elected from each of the countries of the United Kingdom, so there are special arrangements to ensure that this requirement is met.

The election scheme also contains measures relating to: the appointment of a returning officer and an independent scrutineer; the nominations process; the holding of polls (including arrangements for both postal and electronic voting); and the declaration of results and the subsequent appointment of registrant and alternate members to the Health Professions Council. It includes special provisions relating to the expenditure of candidates, and for dealing with issues such as the death or withdrawal of candidates—and for dealing with protests. Provision is also made for the re-running elections, where necessary, and for the holding of by-elections.