Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986

[F1 9 (1) This rule has effect for the purposes of this Schedule. U.K.

(2) [F2 Subject to sub-paragraph (2A), the] “electorate” of the United Kingdom, or of a part of the United Kingdom or a constituency, is the total number of persons whose names appear on the relevant version of a register of parliamentary electors in respect of addresses in the United Kingdom, or in that part or that constituency.

For this purpose the relevant version of a register is the version that is required by virtue of subsection (1) of section 13 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 to be published no later than the review date, or would be so required but for—

(a) any power under that section to prescribe a later date, or

(b) subsection (1A) of that section.

[F3 (2A) In relation to a report under section 3(1) that a Boundary Commission is required (by section 3(2)) to submit before 1 July 2023, the “electorate” of the United Kingdom, or of a part of the United Kingdom or a constituency, is the total number of persons whose names appear on a register of parliamentary electors (maintained under section 9 of the Representation of the People Act 1983) in respect of addresses in the United Kingdom, or in that part or that constituency, as that register has effect on 2 March 2020.]

(3) “Local government boundaries” are—

(a) in England, the boundaries of counties and their electoral divisions, districts and their wards, London boroughs and their wards and the City of London,

(b) in Wales, the boundaries of counties, county boroughs, electoral [F4 wards], communities and community wards,

(c) in Scotland, the boundaries of local government areas and the electoral wards into which they are divided under section 1 of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, and

(d) in Northern Ireland, the boundaries of wards.

[F5 (3A) A local government boundary is “prospective” on a particular date if, on that date—

(a) it is specified in a provision of primary or secondary legislation, but

(b) that provision is not yet in force for all purposes.

(3B) For that purpose—

(a) “primary legislation” means—

(i) an Act of Parliament,

(ii) an Act of the Scottish Parliament,

(iii) an Act of Senedd Cymru, or

(iv) Northern Ireland legislation, and

(b) “secondary legislation” means an instrument made under primary legislation.]

(4) “Ordinary council-election day” is—

(a) in relation to England and Wales, the ordinary day of election of councillors for local government areas;

(b) in relation to Scotland, the day on which the poll is held at ordinary elections of councillors for local government areas;

(c) in relation to Northern Ireland, the day of an election for any district council (other than an election to fill a casual vacancy).

(5) The “ review date ”, in relation to a report under section 3(1) of this Act that a Boundary Commission is required (by section 3(2)) to submit before a particular date, is [F6 —

(a) 1 December 2020, in the case of a report required to be submitted before 1 July 2023, and

(b) in the case of a report required to be submitted before any other particular date, the date which is two years and 10 months before that date.

(For example, 1 December 2028 in the case of a report required to be submitted before 1 October 2031).]

(6) “ The United Kingdom electoral quota ” has the meaning given by rule 2(3).

(7) A reference in rule 6[F7 (2)(a) or (b)] to an area is to the area as it existed on the coming into force of Part 2 of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 [F8 , and the reference in rule 6(2)(c) to the area of the Isle of Anglesey County Council is to the area as it existed on the coming into force of the Schedule to the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020].]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 2 substituted (16.2.2011) by Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 (c. 1), ss. 11(1), 19(1) (with s. 13(5))

F2 Words in Sch. 2 rule 9(2) substituted (14.12.2020) by Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020 (c. 25), ss. 8(1), 14(2) (with s. 13(2))

F3 Sch. 2 rule 9(2A) inserted (14.12.2020) by Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020 (c. 25), ss. 8(2), 14(2) (with s. 13(2))

F4 Word in Sch. 2 rule 9(3)(b) substituted (20.3.2021) by Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 1), s. 175(3)(f), Sch. 2 para. 4

F5 Sch. 2 rule 9(3A)(3B) inserted (14.12.2020) by Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020 (c. 25), ss. 6(4), 14(2) (with s. 13(2))

F6 Words in Sch. 2 rule 9(5) substituted (14.12.2020) by Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020 (c. 25), ss. 9, 14(2) (with s. 13(2))

F7 Words in Sch. 2 rule 9(7) inserted (14.12.2020) by Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020 (c. 25), ss. 7(4)(a), 14(2) (with s. 13(2))

F8 Words in Sch. 2 rule 9(7) inserted (14.12.2020) by Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020 (c. 25), ss. 7(4)(b), 14(2) (with s. 13(2))