§ MR. KIMBERTo ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the effect of the London Electoral Areas Bill, if passed, will be as regards the borough of Wandsworth to increase its present disparity in comparison with the average of electorates of the United Kingdom, by adding to it several hundreds of electors; also whether it is the intention of the Government to simultaneously propose any measure for redressing the increasing disparities which exist.
(Answer.) I have not, at present, precise information as to the number of electors which would be added to the Parliamentary Borough of Wandsworth under the London Elections Bill, but a Return is in preparation which would give these particulars. From the information, however, which appears in the recent Census Report, I should expect to find that the net increase in the number of electors of the borough would be very much less than that anticipated by my hon. friend. As regards the concluding part of the Question, it is not the intention of the I Government to propose simultaneously with the present Bill any general measure of redistribution.—(Local Government Board.)