Paragraph 79 Return of members and record of returns etc.I1

The Clerk of the Parliament shall on receipt of a certificate delivered under rule 62 or 66 (declaration of results) enter the details specified in paragraph (2) in a book kept for that purpose at the Parliament (in this rule referred to as “the returns book”).

The details are the name of each member returned contained in the certificate and the member’s registered party, the word “Independent” or the words “no description” as appropriate.

Where the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament—

the Presiding Officer shall record in the returns book the fact of the vacancy and, where sub‑paragraph (b) applies, that no election shall be held to fill the vacancy because section 9(4) of the 1998 Act applies.

Where it comes to the notice of the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament that—

the Presiding Officer shall record in the returns book the fact of the vacancy and that the seat (in accordance with section 10(2) of the 1998 Act (regional vacancies which are to remain vacant)) is to remain vacant until the next ordinary election.

For the period referred to in paragraph (6) the returns book shall be open to public inspection at reasonable times and any person may, on payment of a reasonable fee, obtain copies from the book.

That period is the period starting on the day on which the first entry is made in the returns book and ending on the day on which the Parliament is dissolved or such later date as the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament may, in writing, direct.

A direction given by the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament under paragraph (6) may be varied or revoked by a subsequent direction.