Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973

17 Commission's reports and their implementation

(1) Where the Boundary Commission have—

(a) in accordance with section 14 or 15 of this Act been conducting a review of any area ; or

(b) in accordance with section 16 of this Act been conducting a review of electoral arrangements,

on which they have a power or duty to formulate proposals to the Secretary of State, and in either case the Commission are of the opinion that they are in a position to submit to the Secretary of State a report on the review or any part of it, they shall, not later than the expiry of any time limit applicable to the review in question in terms of section 14, 15 or 16 of this Act, submit a report to him on the review or that part, together with the proposals they have formulated thereon, or, as the case may be, a notification that they have no proposals to put forward thereon.

(2) The Secretary of State may if he thinks fit by order give effect to any proposals made to him by the Boundary Commission, either as submitted to him or with modifications:

Provided that an order giving effect to any such proposals shall not be made until after the expiry of six weeks from the day on which those proposals were submitted to him.

(3) If in relation to any area the Secretary of State decides to make an order under this section giving effect with modifications to proposals made to him by the Boundary Commission, he may, if he thinks fit, direct the Commission to conduct a further review of that area or, as the case may be, of its electoral arrangements and to make a report to him containing revised proposals with respect to that area or those arrangements within a time specified in the direction.

(4) Where, following the submission of any report by the Commission under this section, the Secretary of State decides to make an order thereunder which abolishes or alters the boundaries of any local government area, he shall lay any such report before Parliament together with the order, and any statutory instrument containing such an order shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.