The Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2014

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order gives effect to the recommendations contained in the Report on Interim Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries at Princes Gate and Greenacres by Robroyston by the Boundary Commission for Scotland dated October 2013. The report is available on the Boundary Commission for Scotland’s website (www.bcomm-scotland.gov.uk) or in hard copy from The Stationery Office (www.tso.co.uk Tel: [phone]).

The report recommends changes to the constituency boundaries between Glasgow Provan constituency and Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency and the region boundaries between Glasgow region and West Scotland region as set out by the Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2691). An indicative map of the changes being made to these constituencies and regions is included in this note.

The Order defines the name, status and area of 71 of the 73 Scottish Parliament constituencies and the name and area of each Scottish Parliament region. (The Orkney Islands constituency and the Shetland Islands constituency are not included in the Order because Schedule 1 to the Scotland Act 1998 (“the 1998 Act”) provides for them directly). Other than the changes made to the Glasgow Provan constituency and Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency and the Glasgow region and West Scotland region, the constituencies and regions are the same as provided by the Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2010.

The Order comes into force on the day after it is made (with the exception of article 4). It does not affect the return of any member to the Parliament or its constitution until the Parliament is dissolved (paragraph 6(7) of Schedule 1 to the 1998 Act). It does apply to any proceedings which occur before dissolution but which relate to a poll which will take place after dissolution.

The 71 constituencies are named and defined by article 2 read together with Schedule 1. The area of each constituency is described in geographical information system data stored on a set of DVD-ROMs deposited with the Secretary of State for Scotland. The DVD-ROMs are entitled “Interim Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries at Princes Gate and Greenacres by Robroyston” and set out the area of each constituency, taking account of the changes recommended by the Boundary Commission for Scotland. Maps of the boundaries are available on the Boundary Commission for Scotland’s website and hard copies can be requested by writing to the Commission.

Each constituency is (by article 2(3) and Schedule 1) given the status of a burgh constituency or a county constituency. That status is relevant to the application of rules governing the conduct of elections to the Scottish Parliament (provided for under section 12 of the 1998 Act).

The regions are named and defined by article 3 read together with Schedule 2.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on business or the private or voluntary sector is foreseen.