Page:Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020 (UKPGA 2020-25).pdf/8

 (6) Where a statement of modifications in relation to a report has been laid under subsection (4), the draft of the Order in Council to be submitted under section 4(1) in relation to the report must give effect to the recommendations in the report with the modifications specified in the statement.”

4 Publicity and consultation

(1) Section 5 of the 1986 Act (publicity and consultation) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1)(a)(iii) (length of initial consultation period), for “12 weeks” substitute “eight weeks”.

(3) Omit subsections (1)(b) and (3) (duty to hold public hearings during initial consultation period and related provision).

(4) In subsection (4)(a) (duty to publish information after the initial consultation period), omit “and records of public hearings held under subsection (1)(b) above”.

(5) In subsection (4)(b) (the secondary consultation period)—

(a) for “things” substitute “representations”, and

(b) for “four weeks” substitute “eight weeks”.

(6) After subsection (4)(b) insert—

“(c) shall cause public hearings to be held at such times during the secondary consultation period as they think fit.”

(7) After subsection (4) insert—

“(4A) Schedule 2A contains further provision about public hearings under subsection (4)(c).

(4B) After the end of the secondary consultation period, the Commission—

(a) must publish, in such manner as they think fit, records of public hearings held under subsection (4)(c), and

(b) must take such steps as they think fit to inform people in the proposed constituencies that written representations withrespect to those records may be made to the Commission during a specified period of eight weeks (“the third consultation period”).”

(8) In subsection (5) (requirements if revised proposals)—

(a) after “revised proposed constituencies” insert “before the beginning of the third consultation period”, and

(b) in paragraph (c), for “a specified period of eight weeks” substitute “the third consultation period”.

(9) In subsection (7) (the taking of steps), after “(4)” insert “, (4B)”.

(10) In subsection (8) (duty to consider certain matters)—

(a) in paragraph (a), after “(4)(b)” insert “, (4B)(b)”, and

(b) in paragraph (b), for “(1)(b)” substitute “(4)(c)”.

(11) In subsection (10)(b), after “(4)” insert “, (4B)”.