Territorial extent and application
- The Act extends and applies to the whole of the United Kingdom. It is concerned only with the Westminster parliamentary elections and will not have an impact on matters which are devolved in respect of Scotland and Wales, or matters which are transferred in respect of Northern Ireland.
- The Parliament of the United Kingdom is a reserved matter under paragraph 1(c) of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998 and under paragraph 1(c) of Schedule 7A to the Government of Wales Act 2006. Elections for membership of the House of Commons, including the subject-matter of the Representation of the People Act 1983, the Representation of the People Act 1985 and the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, so far as those enactments apply, or may be applied, in respect of such membership are reserved matters under reservation B3 of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998 and under reservation B1 of Schedule 7A to the Government of Wales Act 2006. The provisions of the Act will not have an impact on matters which are devolved.
- The Parliament of the United Kingdom and parliamentary elections, including the franchise and disqualifications for membership of that Parliament, are an excepted matter under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The provisions of the Act will not have an impact on matters which are transferred.
- See the table in Annex A for a summary of the position regarding territorial extent and application in the United Kingdom. The table also summarises the position regarding legislative consent motions and matters relevant to Standing Orders Nos. 83J to 83X of the Standing Orders of the House of Commons relating to Public Business.
