Scotland Bill — Constituencies, regions and regional members — 28 Jan 1998

I beg to move amendment No. 47, in page 1, leave out lines 11 to 14.

The Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means (Mr. Michael Lord):

With this, it will be convenient to discuss the following: amendment No. 48, in page 1, line 17, leave out 'and regions'.

That does not inform us very much. I do not know whether there is an Act in place already to which the Minister is referring or whether there will be an Act. Could we please be told what legislation will provide for the registration, and particularly whether there is protection in it against the type of manipulation and abuse about which we have been talking?

I beg to move amendment No. 240, in page 53, leave out lines 6 to 9 and insert

'the parliamentary constituencies in Scotland'.

3.--(1) The Boundary Commission for Scotland shall keep under review the representation in the Scottish Parliament and shall submit to the Scottish Executive a report either:--

(a) showing the constituencies into which they recommend that Scotland should be divided in order to give effect to the rules set out in Schedule 2 (subject to paragraph 7 thereof) to the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (hereinafter referred to as the 1986 Act) in so far as they apply to Scotland, or

(b) stating that, in the opinion of the Commission, no alteration is required to be made in order to give effect to the rules set out in Schedule 2 (subject to paragraph 7 thereof).

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 81 of this Act, the rules in Schedule 2 of the 1986 Act as they apply to Scotland shall have effect in relation to the redistribution of the Parliamentary constituencies in paragraph 1(c).

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (5), the provisions in sections 3, 5, and 6 of the 1986 Act shall, in so far as they apply to Scotland, have effect in relation to the reports and the workings of the Boundary Commission for Scotland's review of Parliamentary constituencies for the Scottish Parliament.

Motion made, and Question put, That this schedule be the First schedule to the Bill:--

The Committee divided: Ayes 341, Noes 73.

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