The Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (c. 56) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is the legislation defining the constitution and work of the four parliamentary Boundary Commissions in the UK.
Provisions The act consolidated earlier legislation, namely the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949 (12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 66), the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1958 (6 & 7 Eliz. 2. c. 26) and the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1979.
Repealed enactments Section 8(1) of the act repealed 8 enactments, listed in schedule 4 to the act. +Enactments repealed by section 8(1)CitationShort titleExtent of repeal11 & 12 Geo. 6. c. 65Representation of the People Act 1948Section 1(1).Section 81.12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 66House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949The whole act.6 & 7 Eliz. 2. c. 26House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1958The whole act.1963 c. 33London Government Act 1963Section 4(7)(c).Section 8(1).In Schedule 3, in Part II, paragraph 21.1973 c. 36Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973Section 28(7).1973 c. 65Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973In Schedule 3, paragraphs 1 and 19.1979 c. 15House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1979The whole act.1986 c. 12Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1986In Schedule 2, paragraph 4(1).
Section 8(2) of the act also revoked article 2(7) of the SI 1973/2095 (the Local Government Reorganisation (Consequential Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1973).
Amendment The Boundary Commissions Act 1992 amended the 1986 act to reduce the intervals between redistributions from 10-15 years to 8-12 years. Thie meant that the commissions had to report by December 1994, but the commissions found this difficult and only the Scottish commission managed to complete this in time. The 1997 election was fought on the boundaries as modified by this review.
In February 2011, the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 received royal assent, which substantially amended the act. The changes affected the Sixth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which provides for a review to be laid before Parliament that contains 50 fewer constituencies and less variation in electorates. It also provides for more frequent boundary reviews and a small reduction in the length of the consultation period.
Notes
References
External links