Government of Wales Act 1998

Local inquiries in respect of Assembly electoral regions

6(1)The Commission may, if they think fit, cause a local inquiry to be held in respect of any Assembly electoral region or regions.

(2)Where, on the publication of the notice under paragraph 5(1) of a proposed recommendation of the Commission for an alteration affecting any Assembly electoral regions, the Commission receive any representations objecting to the proposed recommendation from—

(a)an interested local authority, or

(b)a body of electors numbering 500 or more,

the Commission shall not make the recommendation unless, since the publication of the notice, a local inquiry has been held in respect of those Assembly electoral regions.

(3)Where a local inquiry was held in respect of those Assembly electoral regions before the publication of notice mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), that sub-paragraph shall not apply if the Commission, after considering—

(a)the matters discussed at the local inquiry,

(b)the nature of the representations received on the publication of the notice, and

(c)any other relevant circumstances,

are of opinion that a further local inquiry would not be justified.

(4)In sub-paragraph (2)—

• “interested local authority” means the council of a county or county borough whose area is wholly or partly included in the Assembly electoral regions affected by the proposed recommendation, and

• “elector” means a person who, at the time when the representations are made, is registered in the register of local government electors at an address within any of the Assembly constituencies included in any of those Assembly electoral regions.

(5)Section 250(2) and (3) of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (witnesses at local inquiries) shall apply in relation to any local inquiry which the Commission may cause to be held in pursuance of this paragraph.