until the 2005 general election, scotland elected 72 mps from 72 single-member constituencies to serve in the house of commons. as this over-represented scotland in comparison to the other parts of the uk, clause 81 of the scotland act 1998 equalised the english and scottish electoral quota. as a result, the boundary commission for scotland's recommendations were adopted, reducing scottish representation in the house of commons to 59 mps with effect from the 2005 general election. the necessary amendment to the scotland act 1998, was passed by the parliament of the united kingdom as the scottish parliament (constituencies) act 2004. the previous over-representation was widely accepted before to allow for a greater scottish voice in the commons, but since the establishment of a scottish parliament it has been felt that this is not necessary.