Explanatory note

This Order amends the Returning Officers (Parliamentary Constituencies) (England) Order 1995 in consequence of changes made by orders and regulations under Part II of the Local Government Act 1992 (c. 19).

Regulation 8(3) of the Local Government Changes for England (Miscellaneous Provision) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/1748, as substituted by regulation 3(2) of the Local Government Changes for England (Miscellaneous Provision) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/330)) amended section 24(1)(a) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 so that the reference to “county” in that provision is to a county as defined by section 38 of the Sheriffs Act 1887. The table in Schedule 2A to that Act (as inserted by regulation 8(1)(b) of the 1995 Regulations) sets out certain counties which are not coterminous with counties under the Local Government Act 1972. The designation of certain sheriffs as returning officers by articles 2 and 4 of this Order is necessary because the constituencies in question are not coterminous with or wholly contained in counties for the purposes of the 1887 Act.

Articles 3 and 5 amend the designation of returning officers in Schedule 1 to the 1995 Order and of acting returning officers in Schedule 3 to that Order where orders under section 17 of the Local Government Act 1992 have altered the names and areas of local government districts.