(1)Section 5 of the 1986 Act (publicity and consultation) is amended as follows.
(2)In subsection (1)(a)(iii) (length of initial consultation period), for “12 weeks” substitute “ eight weeks ”.
(3)Omit subsections (1)(b) and (3) (duty to hold public hearings during initial consultation period and related provision).
(4)In subsection (4)(a) (duty to publish information after the initial consultation period), omit “and records of public hearings held under subsection (1)(b) above”.
(5)In subsection (4)(b) (the secondary consultation period)—
(a)for “things” substitute “ representations ”, and
(b)for “four weeks” substitute “ eight weeks ”.
(6)After subsection (4)(b) insert—
“(c)shall cause public hearings to be held at such times during the secondary consultation period as they think fit.”
(7)After subsection (4) insert—
“(4A)Schedule 2A contains further provision about public hearings under subsection (4)(c).
(4B)After the end of the secondary consultation period, the Commission—
(a)must publish, in such manner as they think fit, records of public hearings held under subsection (4)(c), and
(b)must take such steps as they think fit to inform people in the proposed constituencies that written representations with respect to those records may be made to the Commission during a specified period of eight weeks (“the third consultation period”).”
(8)In subsection (5) (requirements if revised proposals)—
(a)after “revised proposed constituencies” insert “ before the beginning of the third consultation period ”, and
(b)in paragraph (c), for “a specified period of eight weeks” substitute “ the third consultation period ”.
(9)In subsection (7) (the taking of steps), after “(4)” insert “ , (4B) ”.
(10)In subsection (8) (duty to consider certain matters)—
(a)in paragraph (a), after “(4)(b)” insert “ , (4B)(b) ”, and
(b)in paragraph (b), for “(1)(b)” substitute “ (4)(c) ”.
(11)In subsection (10)(b), after “(4)” insert “ , (4B) ”.
(12)After subsection (10) insert—
“(11)If the report mentioned in subsection (1) is a 2023 report, this section applies in relation to that report as if—
(a)in subsection (4)(b), the reference to eight weeks were a reference to six weeks, and
(b)in subsection (4B)(b), the reference to eight weeks were a reference to four weeks.
(12)In subsection (11), a “2023 report” means a report that is required by section 3(2) to be submitted before 1 July 2023.”