3(1)For section 137 there shall be substituted—
“137Petition at issue
(1)The petition shall be at issue as from the relevant time, as defined by subsection (2) below.
(2)In this section “the relevant time” means—
(a)where the petitioner gives the security for costs required by section 136 above by a deposit of money equal to the amount of the security so required, the time when the security is so given; and
(b)in any other case, the time when—
(i)the time prescribed for the making of objections under section 136(4) above expires, or
(ii)if such an objection is made, that objection is disallowed or removed,
whichever happens later.”
(2)The amendment made by sub-paragraph (1) does not have effect in relation to election petitions in respect of local government elections in Scotland.