Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill [HL]

Page 1, line 5, at end insert—

“( ) If less than 40% of the electorate vote in the referendum, the result shall not be binding.”

Page 1, line 6, at end insert—

“(2A) The referendum is to be held on 5 May 2011 unless before then an order is made under subsection (2B).

(2B) If the Minister is satisfied that it is impossible or impracticable for the referendum to be held on 5 May 2011, or that it cannot be conducted properly if held on that day, the Minister may by order appoint a later day as the day on which the referendum is to be held.

(2C) Where a day is appointed under subsection (2B), the Minister may by order make supplemental or consequential provision, including provision modifying or amending this Act or another enactment (and, in particular, provision modifying or amending this Act as regards the meaning of “voting area” or “counting officer”).

(2D) An order under this section may not be made unless a draft of the order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.”

Page 1, line 7, leaave out subsection (3) and insert—

“( ) The question on the ballot paper shall be in two parts, A and B, as follows—

(a) in part A the elector will be asked to support one of the following two proposals—

(i) I vote to retain the present “first past the post” system;

(ii) I vote for a change in the voting system;

(b) in Part B the elector will be asked to support one of the following four reform options—

(i) I vote for the supplementary member system;

(ii) I vote for the single transferable vote system;

(iii) I vote for the mixed member proportional system;

(iv) I vote for the alternative or preferential voting system.”

Page 1, leave out lines 10 and 11 and insert—

“Should that system be changed and an inquiry established to recommend an alternative system of election?”

Page 1, leave out lines 10 and 11 and insert—

“Should that system be changed and a different system of electing MPs be introduced at the next general election?”

Page 1, line 10, leave out ““alternative” and insert ““supplementary”

Page 1, line 11, after “instead” insert “or should the single transferable vote system be used”

Clause 2

Clause 2, page 2, line 9, after “constituency,” insert—

“( ) the persons who, on the date of the referendum, have attained the age of 16 and who would be entitled to vote as electors at the subsequent parliamentary election,”

Clause 2, page 2, line 9, after “constituency,” insert—

“( ) the persons who, on that date, having already attained the age of 16, would otherwise be entitled to vote,”

Clause 2, page 2, line 23, at end insert—

“( ) This section shall not come into force until the disqualification of peers from voting as electors at parliamentary elections has been removed.”

Page 2, line 32, leave out subsection (1)

Page 2, line 33, after “are” insert “not”

Page 2, line 37, leave out subsection (2)

Page 2, line 38, after “are” insert “not”

Page 2, line 39, leave out subsection (3)

Page 2, line 40, after “are” insert “not”

Page 2, line 40, at end insert—

“( ) The count for the Scottish parliamentary election must be carried out immediately following the close of polls.”

Page 2, line 41, leave out subsection (4)

Page 3, line 5, leave out “are to” and insert “may not”

Page 3, line 5, after “are” insert “not”

Page 3, line 31, at end insert—

“(8A) Where a day is appointed by an order under section 1(2B)—

(a) if that day is the same as the date of a poll mentioned in subsection (1), the Minister may by order make provision disapplying that subsection or any of paragraphs (a) to (c) of it;

(b) if that day is the same as the date of a poll mentioned in subsection (2) or (3), the Minister may by order make provision disapplying the subsection in question;

(c) if that day is the same as the date of a poll mentioned in subsection (4), the Minister may by order make provision disapplying that subsection or either of paragraphs (b) and (c) of it.

(8B) Where a day is appointed by an order under subsection 1(2B), and that day is the same as the date of a poll not mentioned in subsections (1) to (4), the Minister may by order—

(a) provide that the polls are to be taken together, and

(b) make provision for and in connection with the combination of the poll.

(8C) An order containing provision made under subsection (8A) or (8B)—

(a) may make supplemental or consequential provision, including provision modifying or amending this Act or another enactment (and, in particular, provision modifying or amending this Act as regards the meaning of “voting area” or “counting officer”);

(b) may not be made unless a draft of the order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.”

Page 4, line 7, after “a” insert “referendum campaign”

Page 4, line 11, at end insert—

“( ) Party election broadcasts during the referendum period will not be broadcast if they contain references to the merits of different electoral systems or to the referendum on the alternative vote system”

Page 5, line 43, leave out “the Lord President of the Council or”

Page 6, line 9, leave out paragraphs (a) to (e) and insert—

“( ) in England, a Westminster parliamentary constituency;”

Page 6, line 19, leave out “must” and insert “may”

Page 6, line 19, after “must” insert “, within 14 days of the announcement of the result of the referendum, initiate a debate in both Houses of Parliament on that result and must”

Page 6, line 21, leave out paragraph (a) and insert—

“( ) over one third of those eligible to vote in the referendum have voted in favour of the answer “Yes”, and”

Page 6, line 21, leave out paragraph (a) and insert—

“( ) in Northern Ireland, 50,000 more votes are cast in the referendum in favour of the answer “Yes” than in favour of the answer “No”,

( ) in Wales, 100,000 more votes are cast in the referendum in favour of the answer “Yes” than in favour of the answer “No”

( ) in Scotland, 200,000 more votes are cast in the referendum in favour of the answer “Yes” than in favour of the answer “No”,

( ) in England, 650,000 more votes are cast in the referendum in favour of the answer “Yes” than in favour of the answer “No”, and”

Page 6, line 22, after ““No”” insert “and the total number of persons who have voted in the referendum is not less than 40% of the electorate”

Page 6, line 22, after “No”,” insert—

“( ) more than 50% of those eligible to vote have voted,”

Page 6, line 22, after “No”,” insert—

“( ) 25% of those who have voted in the referendum have voted “Yes”,”

Page 6, line 23, leave out paragraph (b)

Page 6, line 28, after ““No”, insert “in any one of the four parts of the United Kingdom, or in total,”

Page 6, line 28, after ““No”” insert “or the total number of persons who have voted in the referendum is less than 40% of the electorate”

Page 6, line 30, leave out subsection (3)

Page 6, line 32, leave out from “that” to end of line 33 and insert “subsection, but

(b) does not affect any election held before the first parliamentary general election following that day.”

Page 6, line 40, leave out from “preference” to end of line 41

Page 7, line 1, leave out “if the voter wishes,”

Page 7, leave out line 3

Page 7, line 3, at end insert “, casting a vote for every candidate in the order of the voter’s preference”

Page 7, leave out lines 4 and 5

Page 7, line 4, leave out from “mark” to end of line 5 and insert “up to a maximum of four preferences (if there are four or more candidates).””

Page 7, line 18, after “reallocated” insert “to the value of half of one vote”

Page 8, leave out lines 28 and 29 and insert “, initially by a date to be specified by the Boundary Commission, once the Electoral Commission has certified that every local authority has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that the electoral register is as complete and accurate as possible””

Page 8, leave out lines 28 and 29 and insert—

“(2ZA) Boundary reviews should take place no later than every seven years after the first review under the terms of this Act, subject to subsection (2ZB).

(2ZB) If there is a system of fixed-term Parliaments but a General Election is to be held other than on a 5 year cycle beginning with May 2015, then the Boundary Commission shall submit a report under subsection (1) no later than 18 months before the due date of each General Election.””

Page 8, line 28, leave out “2013” and insert “2016”

Page 8, line 29, leave out “fifth” and insert “fourth”

Page 8, line 29, leave out “fifth” and insert “eighth”

Page 8, line 29, leave out “fifth” and insert “tenth”

Page 8, line 29, at end insert—

“( ) If in the event a general election is not held in 2015, or in one of the subsequent five-yearly intervals thereafter, the government shall set up an independent inquiry to recommend appropriate changes to the provisions of this Act.”

Page 9, line 8, leave out “, with or without modifications,”

Page 9, leave out lines 10 to 14 and insert—

“(5B) Where—

(a) a Boundary Commission has submitted a report under subsection (1) above (but no draft under subsection (5A) above has yet been laid in relation to the report),

(b) the Commission notifies the Secretary of State that the recommendations contained in the report are to have effect with specified modifications, and

(c) the Commission submits to the Secretary of State a statement of the reasons for those modifications,

the draft under subsection (5A) above shall give effect to the recommendations with those modifications.”

Page 9, line 15, leave out from beginning to “states” and insert “Subsections (5A) to (5B) above do not apply where each of the reports mentioned in subsection (5) above”

Page 9, line 20, leave out from “Council),” to end of line 21 and insert “for “a statement” there is substituted “the statement submitted under section 3(5B)(c) above”.”

Page 9, line 26, at end insert—

“( ) In paragraph 6 of that Schedule (assistant Commissioners)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1), for the words after “assistant Commissioners” there is substituted “to assist the Commission in the discharge of their functions.”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (2), for “inquiry” there is substituted “matter”.”

Page 9, leave out line 37 and insert—

“United Kingdom electoral quota

1 The United Kingdom electoral quota shall be defined as the total electorate of the United Kingdom on the designated enumeration day divided by 650.”

Page 9, line 37, leave out “600” and insert “650”

Page 9, line 37, leave out “600” and insert “a figure between 600 and 650, to be recommended by the Boundary Commission following consultation with all interested parties and to be approved by Order in Council in time for a General Election to be held in 2015”

Page 9, line 40, leave out “95%” and insert “92.5%”

Page 9, line 40, leave out “95%” and insert “90%”

Page 9, line 41, leave out “105%” and insert “107.5%”

Page 9, line 41, leave out “105%” and insert “110%”

Page 10, line 1, after “rules” insert “2A,”

Page 10, line 1, after “4(2),” insert “5A,”

Page 10, leave out lines 3 to 5 and insert—

“U

X

where U is the electorate of the United Kingdom minus the electorate of the constituencies mentioned in rule 6 or otherwise exempted from the equal constituencies provisions of this bill and X is 600 minus the number of constituencies exempted under rule 6 or otherwise under the provisions of this Act”

Page 10, line 8, at end insert—

“( ) In England the Boundary Commission should where practicable have regard to the boundaries of counties and London boroughs and in any case no constituency shall include the whole or part of more than two counties or London boroughs.”

Page 10, leave out lines 12 to 19

Page 10, line 20, at end insert—

“( ) Wards shall be the building blocks for parliamentary constituencies.”

Page 10, line 20, at end insert—

“( ) A Boundary Commission must ensure that the City of London is wholly contained in one parliamentary constituency.”

Page 10, line 20, at end insert—

“( ) A Boundary Commission must ensure that in Coventry the St. Michael’s ward remains in one parliamentary constituency.”

Page 10, line 20, at end insert—

“( ) A Boundary Commission must ensure that in London no constituency crosses the river Thames or is formed from more than the parts of two London Boroughs.”

Page 10, line 21, leave out “may” and insert “must”

Page 10, line 21, leave out “if and”

Page 10, line 28, after “ties” insert “, including wards,”

Page 10, line 30, at end insert—

“( ) Except in circumstances they judge to be exceptional, a Boundary Commission may not allow a ward to form part of more than one constituency.”

Page 10, line 30, at end insert—

“( ) A Boundary Commission must ensure that no constituency shall cross the river Mersey.”

Page 10, line 31, leave out “may” and insert “must”

Page 10, line 31, leave out “if and”

Page 10, line 37, at end insert—

5A If, but only if, a Boundary Commissin is satisfied that—

(a) it is necessary to do so in order to achieve a viable constituency, and

(b) such necessity arises from special geographical considerations or local ties, as defined in rule 5(1)(a) or (d) above, of an exceptionally compelling nature,

the Boundary Commission may decide that the electorate of the constituency shall be—

(c) no less than 92.5% of the United Kingdom electoral quota; and

(d) no more than 107.5% of that quota.”

Page 10, line 38, leave out from beginning to end of line 10 on page 11, and insert—

“Whole numbers of constituencies

(1) The following shall be allocated a whole number of constituencies by whichever Boundary Commission is responsible for them—

(a) Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands council areas;

(b) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar council area;

(c) the Isle of Wight county area;

(d) the County of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly council areas;

(e) the Highland council area;

(f) the Argyll and Bute council area.

(2) The number of seats to be allocated to each area shall be determined by dividing the electorate of the area or areas concerned by the United Kingdom electoral quota and rounding to the nearest whole number, and each area must be allocated at least one whole seat.”

Page 11, line 5, at end insert—

“( ) a constituency named Brecon and Radnor, comprising the present constituency of Brecon and Radnor”

Page 11, line 5, at end insert—

“( ) a constituency named Ynys Môn comprising the whole of the island of Anglesey”

Page 11, line 5, at end insert—

“( ) 5 constituencies wholly within the county of Shropshire”

Page 11, line 10, at end insert—

“Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

(1) All parts of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly must be included in constituencies which are wholly in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

(2) Rule 2 does not apply to these constituencies.”

Page 12, leave out lines 16 to 26 and insert—

“( ) The “electorate” for the purpose of this Act shall be the best estimate of those entitled to vote based on the figures obtained in the 2011 Census together with any other relevant figures available to the Boundary Commission to enable them to make the most accurate and up to date assessment.”

Page 12, line 16, leave out from ““electorate”” to end of line 20 and insert “for the purpose of this Act shall be deemed to be all those eligible to vote in relation to the United Kingdom”

Page 12, leave out lines 28 to 36 and insert “the boundaries of wards, electoral areas and electoral divisions”

Page 12, line 28, leave out from “of” to end of line 31 and insert “counties and their electoral divisions, districts and their wards, and London boroughs and their wards,”

Page 12, leave out lines 29 to 36 and insert—

“(i) each county for which there is a county council and electoral divisions thereof,

(ii) each district that is not in such a county and electoral wards thereof, and

(iii) each London borough and electoral wards thereof,

(b) in Wales, the boundaries of counties and county boroughs and electoral wards thereof,

(c) in Scotland, the boundaries of the areas of councils and electoral wards thereof,

(d) in Northern Ireland, the boundaries of wards”

Page 12, line 32, leave out “and county boroughs” and insert “, county boroughs, electoral divisions, communities and community wards”

Page 12, line 33, leave out from first “of” to “, and” in line 35 and insert “local government areas and the electoral wards into which they are divided under section 1 of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004”

Page 13, line 1, leave out “ten” and insert “six”

Insert the following new Clause—

“Variation in limit of number of holders of ministerial offices

(1) The House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 is amended as follows.

(2) For section 2(1) substitute—

“(1) The number of holders of offices specified in Schedule 2 to this Act (in this section referred to as Ministerial offices) entitled to sit and vote in the House of Commons at any one time, whether paid or unpaid, must not exceed 95 if the number of constituencies in the United Kingdom is 650.”

(3) After section 2(1) insert—

“(1A) If the number of constituencies in the United Kingdom decreases below 650, the limit on the number of holders of Ministerial offices entitled to sit and vote in the House of Commons referred to in section 2(1) must be decreased by at least a proportionate amount.”

(4) In subsection (2), after “subsection (1)”, insert “or subsection (1A)”.”

Page 13, line 30, leave out from beginning to end of line 2 on page 14 and insert—

“(1) Once a Boundary Commission have decided what constituencies they propose to recommend in a report under section 3(1)(a) above—

(a) the Commission shall take such steps as they think fit to inform people in each of the proposed constituencies—

(i) what the proposals are,

(ii) that a copy of the proposals is open to inspection at a specified place within the proposed constituency, and

(iii) that written representations with respect to the proposals may be made to the Commission during a specified period of 12 weeks (“the initial consultation period”);

(b) the Commission shall cause public hearings to be held during the period beginning with the fifth week of the initial consultation period and ending with the tenth week of it.

(2) Subsection (1)(a)(ii) above does not apply to a constituency with respect to which no alteration is proposed.

(3) Schedule 2A to this Act, which makes further provision about public hearings under subsection (1)(b) above, has effect.

(4) After the end of the initial consultation period the Commission—

(a) shall publish, in such manner as they think fit, representations made as mentioned in subsection (1)(a) above and records of public hearings held under subsection (1)(b) above;

(b) shall take such steps as they think fit to inform people in the proposed constituencies that further written representations with respect to the things published under paragraph (a) above may be made to the Commission during a specified period of four weeks (“the secondary consultation period”).

(5) If after the end of the secondary consultation period the Commission are minded to revise their original proposals so as to recommend different constituencies, they shall take such steps as they see fit to inform people in each of those revised proposed constituencies—

(a) what the revised proposals are,

(b) that a copy of the revised proposals is open to inspection at a specified place within the revised proposed constituency, and

(c) that written representations with respect to the revised proposals may be made to the Commission during a specified period of eight weeks.

(6) Subsection (5) above does not apply to any proposals to make further revisions.

(7) Steps taken under subsection (4) or (5) above need not be of the same kind as those taken under subsection (1) above.

(8) A Boundary Commission shall take into consideration—

(a) written representations duly made to them as mentioned in subsection (1)(a), (4)(b) or (5)(c) above, and

(b) representations made at public hearings under subsection (1)(b) above.

(9) Except as provided by this section and Schedule 2A to this Act, a Boundary Commission shall not cause any public hearing or inquiry to be held for the purposes of a report under this Act.

(10) Where a Boundary Commission publish—

(a) general information about how they propose to carry out their functions (including, in the case of the Boundary Commission for England, information about the extent (if any) to which they propose to take into account the boundaries mentioned in rule 5(2) of Schedule 2 to this Act), or

(b) anything else to which subsection (1), (4) or (5) above does not apply,

it is for the Commission to determine whether to invite representations and, if they decide to do so, the procedure that is to apply.””

Page 13, line 40, at end insert—

“( ) of all representations received in writing or any electronic format made to a Boundary Commission, by publishing item online within 72 hours of receipt”

Page 13, line 43, leave out “not”

Page 14, line 1, leave out from “proposals” to the end of line 3

Page 14, line 2, at end insert—

“(1A) After Schedule 2 to the 1986 Act there is inserted the Schedule set out in Schedule (Public hearings about Boundary Commission proposals) to this Act.”

Insert the following new Clause—

“Assistant Commissioners’ report

(1) The Commission shall appoint Assistant Commissioners to report on and make recommendations emerging from the written representations submitted for each separate area that provisional recommendations have been published for.

(2) The report of each Assistant Commissioner shall be published by the Commission along with copies of all the representations received, before the Commission either publishes its revised recommendation for the area or confirms its provisional recommendations.”

Insert the following new Clause—

“Review of reduction in number of constituencies

(1) The Minister must make arrangements—

(a) for a committee to carry out a review of the effects of the reduction in the number of constituencies brought about by section 11;

(b) for the findings of the review to be published.

(2) A majority of the members of the committee are to be Members of the House of Commons.

(3) Arrangements under subsection (1)(a) are to be made no earlier than 1June 2015 and no later than 30 November 2015.

(4) In this section “the Minister” means the Lord President of the Council or the Secretary of State.”

Page 15, line 14, at end insert “by the affirmative resolution procedure”

Leave out Clause 14 and insert the following new Clause—

“Orders

(1) Any order laid under this Act must first be bid in draft and is subject to a super-affirmative procedure as follows.

(2) The Minister must have regard to—

(a) any representations,

(b) any resolution of either House of Parliament, and

(c) any recommendations of a committee of either House of Parliament charged with reporting on the draft order,

made during the 60-day period with regard to the draft order.

(3) If, after the expiry of the 60-day period, the Minister wishes to make an order in the terms of the draft, he must lay before Parliament a statement—

(a) stating whether any representations were made under subsection (2)(a); and

(b) if any representations were so made, giving details of them.

(4) The Minister may after the laying of such a statement make an order in the terms of the draft if it is approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(5) However, a committee of either House charged with reporting on the draft order may, at any time after the laying of a statement under subsection (3) and before the draft order is approved by that House under subsection (4), recommend under this subsection that no further proceedings be taken in relation to the draft order.

(6) Where a recommendation is made by a committee of either House under subsection (5) in relation to a draft order, no proceedings may be taken in relation to the draft order in that House under subsection (4) unless the recommendation is, in the same Session, rejected by resolution of that House.

(7) If, after the expiry of the 60-day period, the Minister wishes to make an order consisting of a version of the draft order with material changes, he must lay before Parliament—

(a) a revised draft order; and

(b) a statement giving details of—

(i) any representations made under subsection (2)(a); and

(ii) the revisions proposed.

(8) The Minister may after laying a revised draft order and statement under subsection (7) make an order in the terms of the revised draft if it is approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(9) However, a committee of either House charged with reporting on the revised draft order may, at any time after the revised draft order is laid under subsection (7) and before it is approved by that House under subsection (8), recommend under this subsection that no further proceedings be taken in relation to the revised draft order.

(10) Where a recommendation is made by a committee of either House under subsection (9) in relation to a revised draft order, no proceedings may be taken in relation to the revised draft order in that House under subsection (8) unless the recommendation is, in the same Session, rejected by resolution of that House.

(11) For the purposes of subsections (4) and (8) an order is made in the terms of a draft order if it contains no material changes to the provisions of the draft order.

(12) In this section the “60-day period” means the period of 60 days beginning with the day on which the draft order was laid before Parliament.”

Page 15, line 34, at end insert—

“( ) Notwithstanding any provision of this or any other Act, there shall be no change to the number or boundaries of constituencies in Wales unless the Assembly Act provisions as defined in Part 4 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 have come into force.”

Page 15, line 34, at end insert—

“( ) Section 11 shall not come into force until legislation has been introduced into either House of Parliament limiting the number of members of the House of Lords.”

Page 17, line 8, at end insert—

“( ) The minimum period between the passing of this Act and the date of the referendum shall be six months.”

Page 21, line 3, at end insert “subject to the approval of the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission”

Page 21, line 6, at end insert—

“( ) Those steps must include the preparation of an explanatory pamphlet.

( ) The leaflet shall be distributed, so far as is practicable, to all households in the United Kingdom.”

Page 21, line 9, at end insert—

“( ) These steps shall include measures to ensure that all those wishing to vote and arriving at the polling station within the appointed hours are able to do so.”

Page 21, line 9, at end insert—

“( ) Anyone arriving within the precincts of the polling station within the prescribed hours of opening who has not been able to cast their vote by the expiry of those prescribed hours shall nevertheless be permitted to cast their vote.”

Page 35, line 27, after “entry” insert “1A,”

Page 35, line 30, after “entry” insert “1A,”

Page 35, line 33, at end insert—

“( ) in the case of a peer within entry 1A of the table, state that the peer’s entitlement to vote by proxy in the referendum arises by virtue of the peer’s inclusion in the list of proxies for a specified poll mentioned in that entry;”

Page 80, line 17, at end insert—

Page 80, line 23, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 80, line 24, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 80, line 37, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 80, line 38, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 81, line 14, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 81, line 15, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 81, line 23, at end insert—

Page 81, line 29, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 81, line 30, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 81, line 43, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 81, line 44, after “1” insert “, 1A”

Page 82, line 14, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 82, line 15, after “1” insert “, 1A”

Page 83, line 9, at end insert—

“( ) in relation to a principal who is included in the list of proxies by virtue of entry 1A in that table, the appointment of the person mentioned in column 3 of that entry;”

Page 84, line 2, leave out from “paragraph” to “, and” in line 3 and insert “7(2)(a)”

Page 84, line 7, after “7(2)” insert “(b), (c) or (d)”

Page 84, line 28, at end insert—

Page 85, line 41, after “3(9)” insert “, 4(6)”

Page 85, line 43, at end insert—

“( ) articles 8(9), 9(6) and 12(13) of the National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/236) (dates of birth and signatures of certain electors and proxies) in relation to persons entitled to vote in the referendum,

( ) articles 8(9), 9(8) and 11(12) of the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2010 (dates of birth and signatures of certain electors and proxies) in relation to persons entitled to vote in the referendum,”

Page 89, line 27, at end insert—

Page 89, line 33, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 89, line 34, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 90, line 14, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 90, line 15, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 90, line 29, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 90, line 30, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 90, line 38, at end insert—

Page 90, line 44, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 90, line 45, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 91, line 14, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 91, line 15, after “1” insert “, 1A”

Page 91, line 29, after “1” insert “or 1A”

Page 91, line 30, after “1” insert “, 1A”

Page 92, line 15, at end insert—

“( ) in relation to a principal who is included in the list of proxies by virtue of entry 1A in that table, the appointment of the person mentioned in column 3 of that entry;”

Page 93, line 9, leave out from “paragraph” to the end of line 10 and insert “18(2)(a),”

Page 93, line 24, after “18(2)” insert “(b), (c) or (d)”

Page 93, line 45, at end insert—

Page 135, leave out lines 16 to 20 and insert—

Page 159, line 6, after “entry” insert “1A,”

Page 159, line 10, after “entry” insert “1A,”

Page 194, line 26, after “entry” insert “1A,”

Page 194, line 30, after “entry” insert “1A,”

Page 226, line 17, at end insert—

“( ) Priority shall be given to counting the ballots cast in the local, Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly elections over the counting of ballots in the referendum.”

Page 235, line 26, after “entry” insert “1A,”

Page 235, line 30, after “entry” insert “1A,”

Page 304, line 24, at end insert—

In Schedule 2A to the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (public hearings about Boundary Commission proposals), in the definition of “qualifying party” in paragraph 9, for “votes” there is substituted “first-preference votes”.”

Insert the following new Schedule—

The Schedule referred to in section 12(1A) is as follows—

1 The purpose of a public hearing is to enable representations to be made about any of the proposals with which the hearing is concerned.

2 (1) In relation to any particular report under section 3(1)(a) of this Act—

(a) the Boundary Commission for England shall cause at least two and no more than five public hearings to be held in each English region;

(b) the Boundary Commission for Scotland shall cause at least two and no more than five public hearings to be held in Scotland;

(c) the Boundary Commission for Wales shall cause at least two and no more than five public hearings to be held in Wales;

(d) the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland shall cause at least two and no more than five public hearings to be held in Northern Ireland.

(2) The public hearings in an English region shall be concerned with proposals for that region, and shall between them cover the whole region.

(3) The public hearings in Scotland shall be concerned with proposals for Scotland, and shall between them cover the whole of Scotland.

(4) The public hearings in Wales shall be concerned with proposals for Wales, and shall between them cover the whole of Wales.

(5) The public hearings in Northern Ireland shall be concerned with proposals for Northern Ireland, and shall between them cover the whole of Northern Ireland.

3 For each public hearing the Boundary Commission concerned shall appoint a person to chair the hearing.

4 A public hearing shall be completed within two days.

5 It is for the chair of each public hearing to determine the procedure that is to govern that hearing.

6 The chair shall make arrangements for a public hearing to begin with an explanation of—

(a) the proposals with which the hearing is concerned;

(b) how written representations about the proposals may be made (as mentioned in section 5(1)(a), (4)(b) or (5)(c) of this Act).

7 (1) The chair of a public hearing must allow representations to be made—

(a) by each qualifying party;

(b) by any other persons (whether individuals or organisations) considered by the chair to have an interest in any of the proposals with which the hearing is concerned.

Paragraph (b) above has effect subject to sub-paragraph (3)(b) below.

(2) The chair may restrict the amount of time allowed for representations—

(a) by qualifying parties, and

(b) by other persons,

and need not allow the same amount to each.

(3) The chair may determine—

(a) the order in which representations are made, and

(b) if necessary because of shortage of time, which of those wishing to make representations are not allowed to do so,

in whatever way the chair decides.

8 (1) The chair may put questions, or allow questions to be put, to a person present at the hearing.

(2) If questions are allowed to be put, the chair may regulate the manner of questioning or restrict the number of questions a person may ask.

9 In this Schedule—

“the chair” means the person appointed under paragraph 3 above;

“English region” means an electoral region specified in Schedule 1 to the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002 (ignoring paragraph 2(2) of that Schedule and the references to Gibraltar) as it has effect on the day referred to in rule 5(2) of Schedule 2 to this Act;

“public hearing” means a hearing under section 5(1)(b) of this Act;

“qualifying party” means a party that is registered under Part 2 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and either—

(a) has at least one Member of the House of Commons representing a constituency in the region, or (as the case may be) the part of the United Kingdom, in which the hearing is held, or

(b) received at least 10% of the votes cast in that region or part in the most recent parliamentary general election.””