Clause 4 - Orders implementing changes in the - number of United Kingdom MEPs
European Parliament (Representation) Bill
4:00 pm
Ms Yvette Cooper (Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department; Pontefract and Castleford, Labour)
The clause gives the power to the Lord Chancellor to make the order changing the total number of UK MEPs and the distribution of MEPs among UK regions as recommended by the Electoral Commission and in line with implementing our obligations under the treaty of Nice, which has been ratified in the UK Parliament. The Lord Chancellor cannot make an order changing the distribution, other than one that follows the recommendation of the independent Electoral Commission or that has the consent of the Electoral Commission if the original order is rejected by Parliament. The power to make consequential provisions will ensure that changes, which relate to changes in the number of MEPs, can be made to, for example, references in the 2002 Act.