The Parliamentary Constituencies and Assembly Electoral Regions (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2008

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order gives effect, without modifications, to the recommendations contained in the report submitted to the Secretary of State by the Boundary Commission for Wales on 31st January 2008 (“the report”) with respect to the areas comprised in the constituencies of Brecon and Radnorshire, and Neath (HC 588).

The Parliamentary Constituencies and Assembly Electoral Regions (Wales) Order 2006 (S.I.2006/1041) (“the 2006 Order”) sets out the parliamentary constituencies into which Wales is divided and the electoral regions of the National Assembly for Wales. By virtue of articles 1(3)(b) and 2 of the 2006 Order, the parliamentary constituencies are described by reference to local government areas as they existed on 31st January 2005 and, by virtue of article 3, the Assembly electoral regions are described by reference to the parliamentary constituencies.

The Neath Port Talbot and Powys (Cwmtwrch) Order 2004 No. 2746 (W.244) altered the county boundary between the County Borough of Neath Port Talbot and the County of Powys. That Order came into force for all relevant purposes on 1st April 2005.

The Boundary Commission for Wales’ report recommended that the boundary between Neath County Constituency and Brecon and Radnorshire County Constituency, as constituted by the 2006 Order, be altered to conform with the new county boundary. The report also recommended that the boundary between the South Wales West Assembly electoral region and the Mid and West Wales Assembly electoral region be altered to conform with the new constituency boundary. This Order implements those recommendations without modifications.

By virtue of section 4(6) of the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (c.56), the coming into force of this Order will not affect any parliamentary election until a proclamation is issued by Her Majesty summoning a new Parliament, or affect the constitution of the House of Commons until the dissolution of the Parliament then in being. In addition, by virtue of paragraph 10(2) of Schedule 1 to the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c.32), the coming into force of the Order will not affect the operation of section 10 (constituency vacancies) or section 11 (electoral region vacancies) of that Act, or the constitution of the Assembly, at any time before the next general election of Assembly members.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this Order as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.