1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Returning Officers (Parliamentary Constituencies) (Wales) Order 1996.

(2) References to constituencies in this Order are references to the constituencies in Wales, which are established by the Parliamentary Constituencies (Wales) Order 1995(2) or any subsequent Order in Council in respect of Wales under the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986(3).

2.-(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) below, this Order shall come into force on the issue of a proclamation by Her Majesty summoning a new Parliament.

(2) Article 3(3) below shall come into force on 1st April 1996.

(3) For the purposes of proceedings preliminary or relating to a parliamentary election held after the issue of the proclamation referred to in paragraph (1) above, this Order shall come into force on 1st April 1996.

3.-(1) Articles 3, 4 and 6 of the Returning Officers (Parliamentary Constituencies) (England and Wales) Order 1983(4) are hereby revoked so far as they relate to Wales.

(2) Part II of Schedules 1, 2 and 3 to that Order are hereby revoked.

(3) The Returning Officers (Parliamentary Constituencies) (Wales) Order 1995(5) is hereby revoked.

4. In the case of the county constituency specified in column 1 of Schedule 1 to this Order, being a county constituency which is not coterminous with or wholly contained in a preserved county as defined by section 64 of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994(6), the sheriff of the preserved county specified in column 2 of that Schedule opposite to the name of the constituency shall be the returning officer at a parliamentary election.

5. In the case of a borough constituency of Cardiff South and Penarth, being a borough constituency which is not coterminous with or wholly contained in a county or county borough, the chairman of Cardiff County Council shall be the returning officer for a parliamentary election.

6. In the case of a county constituency specified in column 1 of Schedule 2 to this Order, the duties of the returning officer for a parliamentary election shall be discharged, as acting returning officer, by the officer of the council appointed to be the electoral registration officer by the council of the county or county borough specified in column 2 of that Schedule opposite to the name of the constituency.

Article 4

SCHEDULE 1RETURNING OFFICER FOR CERTAIN COUNTY CONSTITUENCIES

Article 6

SCHEDULE 2ACTING RETURNING OFFICERS FOR COUNTY CONSTITUENCIES

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes fresh provision in respect of the designation of returning officers and acting returning officers in Wales as a result of the changes to local government made by the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. In particular, paragraph 68(3) of Schedule 16 to that Act amended section 24(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (which provides for returning officers at parliamentary elections).

This Order refers to the constituencies established by the Parliamentary Constituencies (Wales) Order 1995. Like that Order, this Order does not come fully into force until the next parliamentary general election (article 2(1) of this Order).

Article 6 of, and Schedule 2 to, this Order designate the acting returning officers for county constituencies in Wales. Article 4 of, and Schedule 1 to, this Order designate returning officers in those county constituencies which are not coterminous with or wholly contained in a preserved county in Wales. Under section 64 of the 1994 Act, that expression refers to counties created by the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70). Article 5 of this Order designates the returning officer for Cardiff South and Penarth, being a borough constituency which is not coterminous with or wholly contained in a county or county borough.