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Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022

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Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022

2022 CHAPTER 11

An Act to make provision about the dissolution and calling of Parliament, including provision for the repeal of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011; and for connected purposes.

[24th March 2022]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1Repeal of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011U.K.

The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 is repealed.

Commencement Information

I1S. 1 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

2Revival of prerogative powers to dissolve Parliament and to call a new ParliamentU.K.

(1)The powers relating to the dissolution of Parliament and the calling of a new Parliament that were exercisable by virtue of Her Majesty’s prerogative immediately before the commencement of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 are exercisable again, as if the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 had never been enacted.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1), the powers relating to the calling of a new Parliament include powers to order the issue of—

(a)writs of summons to attend the House of Lords, and

(b)writs for parliamentary elections (see rule 3 in Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983).

Commencement Information

I2S. 2 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

3Non-justiciability of revived prerogative powersU.K.

A court or tribunal may not question—

(a)the exercise or purported exercise of the powers referred to in section 2,

(b)any decision or purported decision relating to those powers, or

(c)the limits or extent of those powers.

Commencement Information

I3S. 3 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

4Automatic dissolution of Parliament after five yearsU.K.

If it has not been dissolved earlier, a Parliament dissolves at the beginning of the day that is the fifth anniversary of the day on which it first met.

Commencement Information

I4S. 4 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

5Minor and consequential amendments and savingsU.K.

(1)The Schedule contains minor and consequential amendments.

(2)The repeal of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 by section 1 does not affect the amendments and repeals made by the Schedule to that Act.

Commencement Information

I5S. 5 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

6Extent, commencement and short titleU.K.

(1)This Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, subject to subsection (2).

(2)An amendment, repeal or revocation made by this Act has the same extent as the provision amended, repealed or revoked.

(3)This Act comes into force on the day on which it is passed.

(4)This Act may be cited as the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022.

Commencement Information

I6S. 6 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

Section 5

SCHEDULEU.K.Minor and consequential amendments

Succession to the Crown Act 1707 (c. 41)U.K.

1In section 7 of the Succession to the Crown Act 1707 (preservation of prerogative powers), after “prorogue” insert “or dissolve”.

Commencement Information

I7Sch. para. 1 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

Representation of the People Act 1867 (c. 102)U.K.

2In section 51 of the Representation of the People Act 1867 (continuation of Parliament on demise of the Crown), after “prorogued” insert “or dissolved”.

Commencement Information

I8Sch. para. 2 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

Regency Act 1937 (c. 16)U.K.

3In section 6 of the Regency Act 1937 (power to delegate royal functions to Counsellors of State), in subsection (1), after “power” insert “to dissolve Parliament otherwise than on the express instructions of the Sovereign, or”.

Commencement Information

I9Sch. para. 3 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2)U.K.

4The Representation of the People Act 1983 is amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I10Sch. para. 4 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

5In section 28 (discharge of returning officer’s functions in England and Wales), after subsection (3) insert—

(3A)For the purposes of subsection (3), the writ is to be taken to have been received—

(a)in the case of a general election, on the day after the date of the dissolution of Parliament, and

(b)in the case of a by-election, on the day after the date of the warrant for the writ.

Commencement Information

I11Sch. para. 5 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

6In section 76ZA (limitation of pre-candidacy election expenses for certain general elections), in subsection (3)(a), omit “or after”.

Commencement Information

I12Sch. para. 6 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

7In section 95 (schools and rooms for parliamentary election meetings), after subsection (1) insert—

(1A)For the purposes of subsection (1), the writ is to be taken to have been received—

(a)in the case of a general election, on the day after the date of the dissolution of Parliament, and

(b)in the case of a by-election, on the day after the date of the warrant for the writ.

Commencement Information

I13Sch. para. 7 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

8(1)Schedule 1 (parliamentary elections rules) is amended as follows.

(2)In rule 1, in the election timetable—

(a)in the entry relating to “Issue of writ”, in the second column, omit “by section 3(1) of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011”;

(b)for the entry relating to “Publication of notice of election” substitute—

Publication of notice of electionIn the case of a general election, not later than 4 in the afternoon on the second day after that on which the writ is received (and for these purposes the writ is to be taken to have been received on the day after the date of the dissolution of Parliament).In the case of a by-election, not later than 4 in the afternoon on the second day after that on which the writ is received (and for these purposes the writ is to be taken to have been received on the day after the date of the warrant for the writ).;

(c)in the entry relating to “Delivery of nomination papers”—

(i)in the second column, omit “by section 3(1) of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011”;

(ii)in the third column, at the end insert “(and for these purposes the writ is to be taken to have been received on the day after the date of the warrant for the writ)”;

(d)in the entry relating to “Polling”, in the second column, for “day determined under section 1 of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 or appointed under section 2(7) of that Act” substitute “19th day after the last day for delivery of nomination papers”.

(3)In rule 2 (computation of time)—

(a)in paragraph (1), at the end insert “, and any such day is not to be treated as a day for the purpose of any proceedings in the Timetable up to the completion of the poll, nor is the returning officer obliged to proceed with the counting of the votes on such a day.”;

(b)omit paragraphs (1A) and (1B);

(c)in paragraph (2A), for sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute “the day was not fixed or appointed as such before the dissolution of Parliament.”

(4)In the form of writ in the Appendix of Forms at the end of Schedule 1, omit “by section 3(1) of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011”.

Commencement Information

I14Sch. para. 8 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50)U.K.

9(1)Section 20 of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (demise of the Crown and parliamentary elections etc) is amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (1)—

(a)after “proclamation” insert “dissolving Parliament or”;

(b)omit “(see section 3(4) of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011)”.

(3)In subsection (2)—

(a)for “(6)” substitute “(6A)”;

(b)for paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute “at any time between the dissolution of Parliament and the polling day for the next parliamentary general election (“the current election”),”.

(4)After subsection (3) insert—

(3A)But the Sovereign may by royal proclamation, made on the advice of the Privy Council, appoint an alternative polling day, in place of the day that would otherwise have been the polling day under subsection (3)(a) (“the subsection (3)(a) polling day”), which may be—

(a)no earlier than the 7th day before the subsection (3)(a) polling day, and

(b)no later than the 7th day after the subsection (3)(a) polling day.

(3B)If an alternative polling day is appointed under subsection (3A), subsection (3) applies as if—

(a)for paragraph (a) there were substituted—

(a)the polling day shall be the day appointed by the proclamation under subsection (3A);;

(b)in paragraph (b)—

(i)in a case where the alternative polling day is before the subsection (3)(a) polling day, for “13 days” there were substituted x days” where x is 13 minus the number of days that the alternative polling day is before the subsection (3)(a) polling day;

(ii)in a case where the alternative polling day is after the subsection (3)(a) polling day, for “13 days” there were substituted y days” where y is 13 plus the number of days that the alternative polling day is after the subsection (3)(a) polling day.

(5)Omit subsection (4).

(6)After subsection (6) insert—

(6A)But the Sovereign may by royal proclamation, made on the advice of the Privy Council, appoint an alternative day for the meeting of the new Parliament, in place of the day that would otherwise have been the day for the meeting of the new Parliament under subsection (6).

(7)In subsection (7), for “by section 3(1) of the 2011 Act, subsections (2) to (6)” substitute “, subsections (2) to (6A)”.

Commencement Information

I15Sch. para. 9 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46)>U.K.

10The Scotland Act 1998 is amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I16Sch. para. 10 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

11In section 2 (ordinary general elections), in subsection (2A)(a), omit “(other than an early parliamentary general election)”.

Commencement Information

I17Sch. para. 11 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

12In section 12A (power of the Secretary of State to make provision about the combination of polls)—

(a)in subsection (1)—

(i)in paragraph (a), for “the elections listed in subsection (2)” substitute “parliamentary by-elections”;

(ii)in paragraph (b), for “the elections listed in subsections (2) and (3)” substitute “parliamentary by-elections or parliamentary general elections”;

(b)omit subsections (2) and (3).

Commencement Information

I18Sch. para. 12 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41)U.K.

13The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 is amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I19Sch. para. 13 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

14In section 63 (weekly donation reports during general election period), in subsection (6)(a), omit “by section 3(1) of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011”.

Commencement Information

I20Sch. para. 14 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

15(1)Section 95A (quarterly donation reports) is amended as follows.

(2)Omit subsection (2).

(3)In subsection (3)—

(a)in paragraph (a), for “first day of a qualifying regulated period” substitute “day that is the fourth anniversary of the day on which the Parliament then in existence first met”;

(b)in paragraph (b), omit “(or the last day) during that qualifying regulated period”.

(4)After subsection (3) insert—

(3A)In a case where the pre-dissolution period is 3 months or less, the reporting period is the pre-dissolution period.

(3B)In a case where the pre-dissolution period is more than 3 months, the reporting periods are—

(a)the period of 3 months beginning with the first day of the pre-dissolution period,

(b)any succeeding period of 3 months falling within the pre-dissolution period, and

(c)any final period of less than 3 months falling within that period.

(5)Omit subsections (4) and (5).

(6)In subsection (7), omit paragraph (a) (and the “and” immediately following it).

Commencement Information

I21Sch. para. 15 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

16In Schedule 9 (limits on campaign expenditure)—

(a)in paragraph 1(3)(a), omit “by section 3(1) of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011”;

(b)in paragraph 9(6)(b), omit “by section 3(1) of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011”.

Commencement Information

I22Sch. para. 16 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

17In Schedule 10 (limits on controlled expenditure)—

(a)in paragraph 1(2)(a), omit “by section 3(1) of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011”;

(b)in paragraph 9(6)(b), omit “by section 3(1) of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011”.

Commencement Information

I23Sch. para. 17 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32)U.K.

18The Government of Wales Act 2006 is amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I24Sch. para. 18 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

19In section 3 (ordinary general elections), in subsection (1A)(a), omit “(other than an early parliamentary general election)”.

Commencement Information

I25Sch. para. 19 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

20In section 13A (power of the Secretary of State to make provision about the combination of polls)—

(a)in subsection (1)—

(i)in paragraph (a), for “the elections listed in subsection (2)” substitute “parliamentary by-elections”;

(ii)in paragraph (b), for “the elections listed in subsections (2) and (3)” substitute “parliamentary by-elections or parliamentary general elections”;

(b)omit subsections (2) and (3).

Commencement Information

I26Sch. para. 20 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5)U.K.

21In section 96A of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (review of benefit cap)—

(a)in subsection (1), for “in each Parliament” substitute “every five years”;

(b)omit subsection (9).

Commencement Information

I27Sch. para. 21 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (c. 6)U.K.

22In section 14 of the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 (extension of timetable for parliamentary elections), omit subsection (1) (amendment of section 3 of Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011).

Commencement Information

I28Sch. para. 22 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

Wales Act 2014 (c. 29)U.K.

23In section 1 of the Wales Act 2014 (frequency of Assembly ordinary general elections), omit subsection (2) (amendment of section 5 of Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011).

Commencement Information

I29Sch. para. 23 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

Recall of MPs Act 2015 (c. 25)U.K.

24The Recall of MPs Act 2015 is amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I30Sch. para. 24 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

25(1)Section 5 (Speaker’s notice that a recall condition has been met) is amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (2)(a), after “with the” insert “last possible”.

(3)After subsection (2), insert—

(2A)For the purposes of subsection (2)(a), the last possible polling day is the day on which polling would take place, according to the election timetable in rule 1 of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983, if the Parliament then in existence were dissolved by virtue of section 4 of the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 (automatic dissolution of Parliament after five years).

(4)Omit subsection (3).

Commencement Information

I31Sch. para. 25 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

26(1)Section 13 (early termination of recall petition process) is amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (2), for paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute “Parliament is dissolved.”

(3)In subsection (6), after “Speaker” insert “(or, in a case where this section applies by virtue of the first condition, the person who was the Speaker immediately before Parliament was dissolved)”.

(4)In subsection (9), at the beginning insert “Except in a case where this section applies by virtue of the first condition (dissolution of Parliament),”.

Commencement Information

I32Sch. para. 26 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

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Early Parliamentary General Election Act 2019 (c. 29)U.K.

32The Early Parliamentary General Election Act 2019 is repealed.

Commencement Information

I33Sch. para. 32 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

Referendums (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 2)U.K.

33In section 3 of Referendums (Scotland) Act 2020 (power to change date of referendum if UK election on same date)—

(a)in subsection (2), after “UK” insert “parliamentary general”;

(b)in subsection (7), omit the definition of “date of a UK election”.

Commencement Information

I34Sch. para. 33 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/341)U.K.

34In regulation 98 of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 (supply of free copy of full register for electoral purposes and restrictions on use), in paragraph (5)(a)(i), omit “in accordance with section 3(1) of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011”.

Commencement Information

I35Sch. para. 34 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/497)U.K.

35In regulation 97 of the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001 (supply of free copy of full register for electoral purposes and restrictions on use), in paragraph (4)(a)(i), omit “in accordance with section 3(1) of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011”.

Commencement Information

I36Sch. para. 35 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 6(3)

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