The Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2020

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order gives effect to the recommendations contained in the Report on Interim Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries at Cardowan by Stepps by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland dated March 2020. The report is available on the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland’s website (www.lgbc-scotland.gov.uk) and hard copies can also be requested (tel: [phone], email: [e-mail]).

The report recommends changes to the constituency and region boundary at Cardowan by Stepps, between Glasgow Provan constituency and Coatbridge and Chryston constituency and between Glasgow region and Central Scotland region as set out by the Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/501). An indicative map of the changes being made to these constituencies and regions is included in this note.

The Order defines the name, status and area of 70 of the 73 Scottish Parliament constituencies and the name and area of each Scottish Parliament region. (The Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands constituencies are not included in the Order because schedule 1 to the Scotland Act 1998 (“the 1998 Act”), as amended by the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, provides for them directly). Other than the changes made to the Glasgow Provan constituency and the Coatbridge and Chryston constituency and between Glasgow region and Central Scotland region, the constituencies and regions are the same as provided by the Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2014.

The Order comes into force on the day after it is made (with the exception of article 4). It does not affect the return of any member to the Scottish Parliament or its constitution until the Parliament is dissolved (paragraph 6(7) of schedule 1 to the 1998 Act).

The 70 constituencies are named and defined by article 2 read together with schedule 1. The area of each constituency is described in geographical information system data stored on a USB memory stick deposited with the Scottish Ministers. The USB memory stick is entitled “Interim Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries at Cardowan by Stepps” and sets out the area of each constituency, taking into account the changes recommended by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. Maps of the boundaries are available on the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland’s website and hard copies can be requested by writing to the Commission.

Each constituency is (by article 2(3) and schedule 1) given the status of a burgh constituency or a county constituency. That status is relevant to the application of rules governing the conduct of elections to the Scottish Parliament (provided for under section 12 of the 1998 Act).

The regions are named and defined by article 3 read together with schedule 2.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on business or the private or voluntary sector is foreseen.