House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Act 2001
A person is not disqualified from being or being elected as a member of the House of Commons merely because he has been ordained or is a minister of any religious denomination.
But a person is disqualified from being or being elected as a member of that House if he is a Lord Spiritual.
Accordingly—
Schedule 1 (which makes amendments consequential on this section) has effect, and
the enactments mentioned in Schedule 2 (which relate to the disqualification of clergy from membership of the House of Commons) are repealed to the extent specified in that Schedule.
This Act may be cited as the House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Act 2001.
Any amendment contained in Schedule 1 or repeal contained in Schedule 2 has the same extent as the enactment to which it relates.
Subject to that, this Act extends to Northern Ireland.
Section 1
In section 36 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (disqualification from membership of the Assembly), in subsection (6) (exception for peers and clergy), for paragraph (b) substitute—
In section 1 of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (disqualification of holders of certain offices and places), in subsection (1), before paragraph (a) insert—.
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In section 16 of the Scotland Act 1998 (exceptions and relief from disqualification from membership of the Parliament), in subsection (1), for paragraph (b) substitute—
Section 1 Short title and chapter Extent of repeal The House of Commons (Clergy Disqualification) Act 1801 (c. 63). The whole Act. The Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 (c. 7). Section 9. The Clerical Disabilities Act 1870 (c. 91). In the first Schedule, paragraph (1) The Welsh Church Act 1914 (c. 91). Section 2(4). The House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24). Section 10. The Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2). In Schedule 8, paragraph 19.