Local inquiries
4(1)For the purposes of this Schedule the Committee may, if they think fit, cause a local inquiry to be held in respect of any Assembly electoral region or regions.
(2)Sub-paragraph (3) applies if, having published a notice under paragraph 3(1) of a proposed recommendation for an alteration affecting any Assembly electoral regions, the Committee receive any representations objecting to the proposed recommendation from—
(a)an interested local authority, or
(b)a body of electors numbering 500 or more.
(3)The Committee may not proceed with the proposed recommendation unless, since the publication of the notice, a local inquiry has been held in respect of the Assembly electoral regions.
(4)But sub-paragraph (3) does not apply if—
(a)a local inquiry was held in respect of the Assembly electoral regions before the publication of the notice, and
(b)the Committee think that a further local inquiry would not be justified, having regard to the matters discussed at the previous local inquiry, the nature of the representations received on the publication of the notice and any other relevant circumstances.
(5)The Committee must take into consideration the findings of any local inquiry held under this paragraph.
(6)Section 250(2) and (3) of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) (witnesses at local inquiries) applies in relation to a local inquiry which the Committee cause to be held under this paragraph.
(7)In this paragraph—
“interested local authority” means the council of a county or county borough whose area is wholly or partly included in the Assembly electoral regions affected by the proposed recommendation, and
“elector” means a person who, at the time when the representations are made, is registered in the register of local government electors at an address within any of the Assembly constituencies included in any of those Assembly electoral regions.