Citation and commencement

1.–(1) This Act of Sederunt may be cited as the Act of Sederunt (Summary Applications, Statutory Applications and Appeals etc. Rules) Amendment (Registration Appeals) 2008 and shall come into force on 17th March 2008.

(2) This Act of Sederunt shall be inserted in the Books of Sederunt.

Amendment of Summary Application Rules

2.–(1) Part XI of the Act of Sederunt (Summary Applications, Statutory Applications and Appeals etc. Rules) 1999(2) (Representation of the People Act 1983) is amended in accordance with the following sub-paragraphs.

(2) In rule 3.11.1 (interpretation and application)-

(a) in paragraph (1), for "rule 3.11.2" substitute "rules 3.11.2, 3.11.22 and 3.11.23 ";

(b) for paragraph (2) substitute-

"(2) In this Part-

(a) rules 3.11.2 to 3.11.21 apply to election petitions under the Act; and

(b) rules 3.11.22 to 3.11.24 apply to registration appeals under section 56 of the Act where the appellant is a person-

(i) whose entry in the register is an anonymous entry; or

(ii) who has applied for such an entry.".

(3) After rule 3.11.21 insert-

"Application for serial number

3.11.22.–(1) Where a person desiring to appeal wishes to prevent his identity being disclosed he may, before lodging the appeal, apply to the sheriff clerk for a serial number to be assigned to him for all purposes connected with the appeal.

(2) On receipt of an application for a serial number, the sheriff clerk shall assign such a number to the applicant and shall enter a note of it opposite the name of the applicant in the register of such serial numbers.

(3) The contents of the register of serial numbers and the names of the persons to whom each number relates shall be treated as confidential by the sheriff clerk and shall not be disclosed to any person other than-

(a) the sheriff;

(b) the registration officer whose decision or determination is the subject of the appeal.

(4) In this rule and in rule 3.11.23 "sheriff clerk" means the sheriff clerk of the sheriff court district in which the appeal is or is to be raised.

Confidentiality

3.11.23. Unless the sheriff otherwise directs, all documents lodged in process of an appeal to which this rule applies are to be available only to the sheriff and the parties; and such documents are to be treated as confidential by all persons involved in, or party to, the proceedings and by the sheriff clerk.

Hearing

3.11.24. The hearing of an appeal to which this rule applies is to be in private.".

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Act of Sederunt)

This Act of Sederunt amends Part XI of the Summary Application Rules in consequence of amendments made to the Representation of the People Act 1983 by the Electoral Administration Act 2006.

In particular, it inserts new rules 3.11.22 to 3.11.24 into the Summary Application Rules which make provision to prevent the disclosure of the identity of the appellant in a registration appeal where that appellant has an anonymous entry in the register or has applied for such an entry.