Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order gives effect to the recommendations contained in the Report on the Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries by Boundaries Scotland dated April 2025. The report is available on the Boundaries Scotland website (https://boundaries.scot/) and hard copies can also be requested by telephoning 0131 244 2001 or by emailing [email protected].
The 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 constituencies of Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands are not included as constituencies defined by schedule 1 of this Order because paragraph 1(2) of schedule 1 of the Scotland Act 1998 (the “1998 Act”), as amended by section 18 of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 (asp 12), provides for them directly.
This Order comes into force on the day after it is made (with the exception of article 4). It does not affect the return of any member of the Parliament or the Parliament’s constitution until the Parliament is dissolved (paragraph 6(7) of schedule 1 to the 1998 Act). Article 4, which revokes the Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2020, comes into force when the Scottish Parliament is dissolved.
The 70 constituencies are named and defined by article 2(1) read together with schedule 1. The boundaries are described by reference to the geographic information system (“GIS”) data held by the Scottish Ministers which was submitted to them by Boundaries Scotland on 30 April 2025 together with the Boundaries Scotland’s report entitled “Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries” and dated April 2025. Indicative maps showing the constituencies and regions defined by this Order are included in this note. Individual indicative maps for each constituency and region and the corresponding GIS data are available on the Boundaries Scotland website (https://boundaries.scot/). Hard copy indicative maps for each constituency and region can also be requested by telephoning 0131 244 2001 or by emailing [email protected].
Article 2(3) read together with schedule 1 specifies whether each of the 70 constituencies named by this Order is a burgh or county constituency, which is relevant to the application of the rules governing the conduct of elections to the Scottish Parliament. Article 42 (limitation of election expenses: constituency and individual regional candidates) of the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/425) provides that the constituencies of Na h-Elieanan an Iar, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands are county constituencies for the purpose of that article.
The regions are named and defined by article 3 read together with schedule 2.
