Scotland Act 1998

Arrangements at Westminster

86 Scottish representation at Westminster

(1) Schedule 2 to the [1986 c. 56.] Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (rules for redistribution of seats) is amended as follows.

(2) Rule 1(2) (Scotland to have not less than 71 constituencies) is omitted.

(3) After rule 3 there is inserted—

“3A A constituency which includes the Orkney Islands or the Shetland Islands shall not include the whole or any part of a local government area other than the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands.”; and in rule 4, for “3” there is substituted “3A”.

(4) In applying rule 5 (electoral quotas for each part of the United Kingdom) to Scotland for the purposes of the first report of the Boundary Commission for Scotland to be submitted under section 3(1) of that Act after the commencement of this subsection, “electoral quota” means the number which, on the enumeration date in relation to that report, is the electoral quota for England.

(5) In paragraph 7 (Commissions do not have to give full effect to all rules), after “rules” there is inserted “(except rule 3A)”.

87 The Advocate General for Scotland

(1) In Schedule 2 to the [1975 c. 24.] House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (Ministerial offices) and Part III of Schedule 1 to the [1975 c. 27.] Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975 (salaries of the Law Officers), after the entry for the Solicitor General there is inserted— “Advocate General for Scotland

(2) The validity of anything done in relation to the Advocate General is not affected by a vacancy in that office.

(3) If that office is vacant or the Advocate General is for any reason unable to act, his functions shall be exercisable by such other Minister of the Crown as the Prime Minister may determine in writing.