1(1)Rule 1 of the Parliamentary Elections Rules (timetable for elections) in Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2) must be construed subject to this paragraph.

(2)The writ for a by-election in a constituency which is situated in a pilot region must not be issued on a day which by virtue of the timetable is likely to result in the by-election being held on the same day as the date of the poll at the European Parliamentary general election of 2004.