Commentary Introduction Section 61 – Removal of Electoral Commission boundary functions
138.This section abolishes the Electoral Commission’s duty to establish a Boundary Committee for England and repeals section 14, so far as it relates to England, and section 15 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Those provisions provided for the establishment of the Boundary Committee for England as a statutory committee of the Electoral Commission, and the appointment by the Electoral Commission of Deputy Commissioners to be members of the Boundary Committee.
139.Section 61 also repeals section 14, so far as it relates to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, sections 16, 17, 19 and 20 and the related provisions within the schedules to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Insofar as these sections relate to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales they were never commenced. The repeal removes the Electoral Commission’s duty to establish Boundary Committees for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and the provisions for the transfer of the functions of the existing local government and parliamentary boundary commissions to these Boundary Committees.