'(1) This section has effect, in addition to section 128 (Chief Counting Officers, and counting officers, for referendums) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41) ("the 2000 Act"), in relation to the referendum under section 29.

(2) The Chief Counting Officer for the referendum must appoint a Regional Counting Officer for each region in Great Britain.

(3) For the purposes of this section the regions are as follows-

East Midlands;

Eastern;

London;

North East;

North West;

South East;

South West;

West Midlands;

Yorkshire and the Humber;

Scotland;

Wales.

The regions in England comprise the areas specified in the Table in Schedule 1 to the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002 (c. 24) (ignoring the reference to Gibraltar) as it has effect for the time being.

(4) Each Regional Counting Officer must, as respects the votes cast in the region for which the officer is appointed, certify-

(a) the total number of ballot papers counted, and

(b) the total number of votes cast in favour of each answer to the question asked in the referendum.

Where two or more forms of ballot paper are used in the referendum, a separate number must be certified under paragraph (a) in relation to each form of ballot paper used.

(5) The Chief Counting Officer may require a Regional Counting Officer to appoint counting officers for relevant areas (within the meaning of section 128 of the 2000 Act) in the region for which the Regional Counting Officer is appointed.

(6) To the extent that counting officers are appointed by virtue of subsection (5), the duty of the Chief Counting Officer under section 128(3) of the 2000 Act is discharged.

(7) A reference to a counting officer in sections 33 to 35 (except the reference in section 34(5)) includes a reference to a Regional Counting Officer.'.