1(1)In this Schedule—
(a)“an ordinary general election to the Scottish Parliament” means an election held under section 2 of the [1998 c. 46.] Scotland Act 1998;
(b)“an extraordinary general election to the Scottish Parliament” means an election held under section 3 of the [1998 c. 46.] Scotland Act 1998;
(c)“an ordinary election to the Welsh Assembly” means an election held under section 3 of the [1998 c. 38.] Government of Wales Act 1998;
(d)“an ordinary general election to the Northern Ireland Assembly” means an election held under section 31 of the [1998 c. 47.] Northern Ireland Act 1998; and
(e)“an extraordinary general election to the Northern Ireland Assembly” means an election held under section 32 of the [1998 c. 47.] Northern Ireland Act 1998.
(2)For the purposes of this Schedule a registered party—
(a)contests a constituency if any candidate stands for election for that constituency in the name of the party; and
(b)contests any region if the party is included in the statement of parties and candidates nominated for that region.
(3)For the purposes of this Schedule a parliamentary general election is pending during the period—
(a)beginning with the date on which Her Majesty’s intention to dissolve Parliament is announced in connection with a forthcoming parliamentary general election, and
(b)ending with the date of the poll for that election.