Valid from 01/05/1999

Section 2.

SCHEDULE 1U.K. New Schedule 2 to the European Parliamentary Elections Act 1978

“Schedule 2U.K. Electoral Regions in England

Electoral regionsU.K.

1The electoral regions for England shall be those listed in the Table below.

2(1)Subject to sub-paragraph (2), a reference in the Table to a local government or administrative area is a reference to that area as it is for the time being.

(2)Where an area specified in column (2) of the Table is altered, the alteration shall not have effect for the purposes of this Act until the first general election of MEPs at which the poll in the United Kingdom takes place after the alteration comes into force for all other purposes.

Number of MEPs elected for each regionU.K.

3The number of MEPs elected for each electoral region in England shall be the number specified in column (3) of the Table.

4(1)As soon as possible after 16th February in each pre-election year the Secretary of State shall—

(a)consider whether the ratio of registered electors to MEPs is as nearly as possible the same for every electoral region in England, and

(b)make by order such amendments of column (3) of the Table as he considers necessary to ensure that result.

(2)An order under sub-paragraph (1) shall not alter the total number of MEPs elected for electoral regions in England.

(3)For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) the Secretary of State shall consider the number of registered electors as at 16th February of the pre-election year.

(4)For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) a registered elector for an electoral region is a person whose name appears in a relevant register, or part of a relevant register, which relates to the region, other than a person who is—

(a)a relevant citizen of the Union within the meaning of section 202(1) of the Representation of the M1People Act 1983 (interpretation), and

(b)registered only for the purposes of local government elections.

(5)The relevant registers are—

(a)registers of parliamentary electors;

(b)registers of local government electors;

(c)registers of peers maintained under section 3(2) to (9) of the Representation of the M2People Act 1985 (peers resident outside the United Kingdom);

(d)registers maintained under regulation 9 of the European Parliamentary Elections (Changes to the M3Franchise and Qualification of Representatives) Regulations 1994 (relevant citizens of the European Union).

(6)In this paragraph “pre-election year” means any year after 2002 which immediately precedes a year in which general elections would be held in accordance with Article 10(2).

(7)A statutory instrument made under sub-paragraph (1) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Valid from 01/05/1999

1Schedule 1 to the M4European Parliamentary Elections Act 1978 (simple majority system for Great Britain and single transferable vote system for Northern Ireland) shall be amended as follows.

Valid from 01/05/1999

2For the title substitute “ System of Election, &c. ”.

Valid from 01/05/1999

3Omit paragraph 1.

Valid from 01/05/1999

4Omit paragraph 2(1) and (2).

Valid from 01/05/1999

5In paragraph 2(3)(a), omit “(including the registration of electors and the limitation of candidates’ election expenses)”.

Valid from 01/05/1999

Section 3(2).

SCHEDULE 3U.K. Minor and Consequential Amendments

The European Parliamentary Elections Act 1978 (c. 10)U.K.

1In section 4(1) of the European Parliamentary Elections Act 1978 (double voting) for “representatives to the European Parliament” substitute “ MEPs ”.

The European Parliament (Pay and Pensions) Act 1979 (c. 50)U.K.

2In the following provisions of the European Parliament (Pay and Pensions) Act 1979 for “constituency” and “a constituency”, in each place, substitute “ electoral region ”and “ an electoral region ”

(a)section 3(1) (resettlement grants);

(b)section 7(2) (expenses: Northern Ireland);

(c)section 8(1) (interpretation).

The Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50)U.K.

3(1)Section 3 of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (extension of franchise for European Parliamentary elections) shall be amended as follows.

(2)Omit subsection (1).

(3)In subsections (2) to (4A) for “constituency”, in each place, substitute “ electoral region ”.

(4)In subsection (8) for the words from “and references to the register of local government electors” to the end substitute— “and references to the register of local government elections include a reference to a register of electors prepared—

(a)for the purposes of local elections, or

(b)for the purposes of municipal elections in the City of London (that is, elections to the office of mayor, alderman, common councilman or sheriff and also elections of officers elected by the mayor, aldermen and liverymen in common hall).”.

The European Parliamentary Elections (Changes to the Franchise and Qualification of Representatives) Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/342)U.K.

4(1)The European Parliamentary Elections (Changes to the Franchise and Qualification of Representatives) Regulations 1994 shall be amended as follows.

(2)In regulation 4 (offence of standing as a candidate in more than one Member State), omit paragraph (3).

(3)In regulations 7 and 9 (extension of the franchise to relevant citizens of the Union), for “constituency”, in each place, substitute “ electoral region ”.

Valid from 01/05/1999

Section 3(3).

SCHEDULE 4U.K. Repeals and Revocations