The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Variation of Specified Documents) Regulations 2003

Statutory Instruments

2003 No. 1156

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE

The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Variation of Specified Documents) Regulations 2003

Made

16th April 2003

Coming into force

30th April 2003

Whereas the Secretary of State has consulted the Electoral Commission in accordance with section 7(1) and (2)(e) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000(1) about these Regulations;

And whereas a draft of these Regulations has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament;

Now, therefore, the Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 201(1) and (3) of and rule 37(1F) of Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983(2) hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Variation of Specified Documents) Regulations 2003 and shall come into force on 30th April 2003.

Extent

2.  These Regulations extend to Northern Ireland only.

Amendment of rule 37(1E) of the parliamentary election rules

3.—(1) Paragraph (1E) (3) of rule 37 of the parliamentary elections rules in Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 is amended as follows.

(2) For sub-paragraph (a)(4) there is substituted:

“(a) a current licence to drive a motor vehicle if the licence bears the photograph of the person to whom it is issued;”.

(3) Sub-paragraphs (c) to (g)(5) are omitted.

(4) For the words “in sub-paragraph (e) above” to the end there is substituted:

• “In sub-paragraph (a) a licence to drive a motor vehicle is a licence granted under Part 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 or Part 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (excluding a provisional licence), or under Article 12 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 or any corresponding enactment for the time being in force.”.

Paul Murphy

One of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State

Northern Ireland Office

16th April 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend paragraph (1E) of rule 37 of the parliamentary elections rules set out in Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983. The effect of the amendments is to remove all non-photographic forms of identity document from the list of specified documents set out in paragraph (1E). Rule 37(1A) provides that a ballot paper shall not be delivered to a voter unless he has produced one of the specified documents to the presiding officer or a clerk.

(1)

2000 c. 41.

(2)

1983 c. 2; paragraph (1F) was inserted, in relation to Northern Ireland, by the Elections (Northern Ireland) Act 1985, section 1(1) and (2).

(3)

Paragraph (1E) was inserted, in relation to Northern Ireland, by the Elections (Northern Ireland) Act 1985, section 1(1) and (2); amended most recently by 2002 c. 13 section 4(1) and (3) and S.I. 2002/1873 reg. 9.

(4)

Paragraph (1E)(a) was amended by the Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988, section 4 and Schedule 3, paragraph 28.

(5)

Paragraph (1E)(f) was substituted, in relation to Northern Ireland, (as inserted, in relation to Northern Ireland, by the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1986, S.I. 1986/1091, regulation 13), by the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2001, S.I. 2001/400, regulation 14(2); paragraph (1E)(g) was substituted, in relation to Northern Ireland, (as inserted, in relation to Northern Ireland, by the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Variation of Specified Documents and Amendment) Regulations 1991, S.I. 1991/1674, regulation 4) by the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2001, regulation 14(3).