The Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2020 [draft] was laid before the Scottish Parliament on 31 August 2020 and referred to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee (SPPA Committee).
The draft Order gives effect to the recommendations contained in the Report on Interim Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries at Cardowan by Stepps by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland of March 2020.
The report recommends changes to the constituency and region boundary between Glasgow Provan constituency and Coatbridge and Chryston constituency and between Glasgow region and Central Scotland Region. The changes are set out in the map included in the explanatory notes to the instrument.
The draft Order defines the name, status and area of 70 of the 73 Scottish Parliament constituencies and the name and area of each Scottish Parliament region (The Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands constituencies are provided for in schedule 1 to the Scotland Act 1998 as amended by the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018). Other than the changes made to the Glasgow Provan constituency and Coatbridge and Chryston constituency and between Glasgow region and Central Scotland Region, these are the same as provided for by the Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2014. The area of each constituency is described in geographical information system data stored on a USB memory stick deposited with the Scottish Ministers.
The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee (DPLRC) considered the draft Order on 8 September 2020. The DPLRC’s report indicates that it had no points to raise on the instrument.
Motion S5M-22061 was lodged by Graeme Dey, Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans, and supported by Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations.
At the SPPA Committee’s 17th Meeting on 1 October 2020, it took evidence on the Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2020 [draft] from—
Graeme Dey, Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans;
Alison Fraser, Legal Directorate, and Kenneth Pentland, Senior Policy Officer, Elections Team, Scottish Government.
Following the evidence session, Graeme Dey moved Motion S5M-22601 that the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee recommends that the Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2020 [draft] be approved.
The motion was agreed to without division.
The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee recommends that the Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2020 [draft] be approved.
17th Meeting 2020 (Session 5), Thursday 1 October 2020
Subordinate legislation: The Committee took evidence on the Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2020 [draft] from—
Graeme Dey, Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans;
Alison Fraser, Legal Directorate, and Kenneth Pentland, Senior Policy Officer, Elections Team, Scottish Government.
Subordinate legislation: Graeme Dey moved—S5M-22601—That the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee recommends that the Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2020 [draft].
The motion was agreed to.