HL Deb 10 October 2000 vol 617 cc311-2

6.—(1) Section 6 (local inquiries) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1), for "A Boundary Commission" there shall be substituted "In connection with carrying out any review under section 3A(l) above a Boundary Committee".

(3) In subsection (2)—

  1. (a) for "recommendation of a Boundary Commission" there shall be substituted "proposed recommendation of a Boundary Committee";
  2. (b) for "the Commission", in both places, there shall be substituted "the Committee"; and
  3. (c) for "make the recommendation" there shall be substituted "proceed with the proposed recommendation".

(4) In subsection (3), for "Commission" there shall be substituted "Committee".

(5) After subsection (4) there shall be inserted— (4A) Where a Boundary Committee have caused a local inquiry to be held in pursuance of this Act, the Committee shall take into consideration the findings of the inquiry. (4B) Where a Boundary Committee have caused a local inquiry to be held in pursuance of this Act and the Electoral Commission are minded to exercise in relation to the Committee's proposed recommendations any of the powers conferred by section 3A(3)(b) or (c) above, the Electoral Commission shall have regard to—

  1. (a) the findings of the inquiry; or
  2. (b) (where they are minded to exercise any of those powers in relation to part only of the area which was the subject of the Committee's review) the findings of the inquiry so far as relating to that part of that area."

(6) In subsections (5) to (7), for "Commission", wherever occurring, there shall be substituted "Committee".

Rules for redistribution of seats

7.—(1) Schedule 2 (rules for redistribution of seats) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 1(4), for "the Boundary Commission" there shall be substituted "the Electoral Commission or (as the case may be) the Boundary Committee".

(3) In paragraph 5, for "a Boundary Commission" there shall be substituted "the Electoral Commission or (as the case may be) a Boundary Committee".

(4) In paragraph 6, for "A Boundary Commission" there shall be substituted "The Electoral Commission or (as the case may be) a Boundary Committee".

(5) In paragraph 7, for "a Boundary Commission" there shall be substituted "the Electoral Commission or (as the case may be) a Boundary Committee".

(6) In paragraph 8—

  1. (a) the words "for which there is a Boundary Commission" shall be omitted; and
  2. (b) for "report of a Boundary Commission" there shall be substituted "report of the Electoral Commission (or one made by a Boundary Committee for purposes of it)".

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