---

Scotland Bill

1: After Clause 2, insert the following new Clause— ““Regional vacancies: individual candidates (1) Section 10 of the 1998 Act (regional vacancies) is amended as follows. (2) In subsection (2) omit ““the regional member was returned as an individual candidate, or””. (3) After subsection (6) insert— ““(6A) If the regional member was returned as an individual candidate, an election will be held and the single vacancy allocated in accordance with the procedures set out in subsection (6B). (6B) In any election held in accordance with subsection (6A)— (a) for each registered party which has submitted a regional list, the regional figure for the purposes of paragraph (c) is the total number of regional votes given for the party in all the constituencies included in the region divided by the aggregate of one plus the number of candidates of the party presently returned as constituency members for any of those constituencies plus the number of regional seats allocated under section 8 to that party at the previous general election; (b) for each individual candidate, the regional figure for the purposes of paragraph (c) is the total number of regional votes given for him in all the constituencies included in the region; (c) the vacant regional member seat shall be allocated to the registered political party or individual candidate with the highest regional figure.””””