HC Deb 22 July 1943 vol 391 cc1049-52
12. Sir Reginald Blair

asked the Home Secretary whether he is yet in a position to state the Government's proposals as regards redistribution of Parliamentary seats?

17. Mr. Parker

asked the. Home Secretary whether the Government have yet concluded their consideration of the question of redistribution; and whether he can make any statement on the matter?

Mr. H. Morrison

In view of the length of the answer to these Questions, which I will, with permission, answer together, I propose to make a statement at the end of Questions.

Later—

Mr. Morrison

Since the last distribution of Parliamentary seats took place in 1918, there have been large changes in the distribution of population. In some constituencies the population has been greatly reduced; in others the population has doubled and in some places even trebled or quadrupled. On the principle, therefore, that each vote recorded shall as far as possible command an equal share of representation in the House of Commons, the case for a scheme of redistribution is established. The Departmental Committee on Electoral Machinery, which included representatives of the main political parties, recommended that Parliament, when taking the necessary steps to correct the maldistribution now existing, should also make permanent provision for adjusting constituencies to future changes in the distribution of population. The Government propose to submit to Parliament legislation to give effect to the Committee's recommendations. In such legislation it is proposed to set out the general principles on which any scheme of redistribution should be based; to provide for the appointment of Boundary Commissioners charged with the duty of preparing schemes when occasion arises for distributing constituencies in accordance with those principles; and to make provision for the submission of any such schemes to Parliament for approval. By the passing of such legislation it is hoped to secure that a scheme of redistribution will take effect before the first post-war General Election is held. Thereafter there will be in existence a standing body of Boundary Commissioners, who will keep the state of the constituencies under review and will be in a position, when any redistribution is required, to prepare schemes for Parliamentary approval. Under such an arrangement complete control over all measures of redistribution will remain with Parliament.

The proposed legislation will be submitted as early as possible, but its preparation will take a little time, and, having regard to the state of Parliamentary business, it will not be practicable to present it till after the Recess.

Sir Percy Harris

Will the right hon. Gentleman, following on the precedent of 1918, while redistribution is being considered, at the same time set up a Commission or Committee of inquiry to consider the whole of the electoral system, which he undertook to do some three years ago when he first introduced the Bill dealing with the extension of the life of Parliament?

Mr. Morrison

I think my right hon. Friend's recollection is not quite correct. There have been repeated requests for a Speaker's Conference or a Commission on Electoral Reform but the Government have not yet returned an affirmative answer to that, although it is not excluded, but what we did say was that we would give an opportunity for Parliamentary Debate at an appropriate time so that views on electoral reform could be ventilated, and the Government would take them into account. I do not think that my right hon. Friend will find that the statement I have made in any, way prejudices that undertaking.

Sir P. Harris

Do the Government refuse to give an opportunity for discussion? We have constantly asked for an opportunity during the last few years, and three years have gone by and we have not had an opportunity to discuss electoral reform.

Mr. Morrison

That is quite true, because the Government think that the appropriate time has not yet been reached.

Sir H. Williams

Why need there be any undue delay in presenting the Bill, having regard to the fact that every one of these proposals is to be found incorported in a Private Bill that I introduced seven years ago?

Mr. A. Bevan

Does not the Home Secretary realise that there will be a very great amount of resentment, particularly in Wales and, I imagine, in Scotland, if Parliamentary representation is going to be based upon what has been considered to be an entirely unfair method of denuding these areas of their population in the last 10 or 15 years, and they will not want to have that situation perpetuated in Parliamentary representation?

Professor Savory

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that by the Act of 192o the representation of Northern Ireland was reduced from 3o to 13 and the representation of the City of Belfast from 9 to 4? Does he think that this representation of Ulster is adequate in the Imperial Parliament?

Mr. Morrison

I should not like to express an opinion about the adequacy of Ulster's representation. It does, at any rate, make itself felt. The circumstances of Northern Ireland are special, in that Northern Ireland has a Parliament of its own which is doing in respect of Northern Ireland much of the work which, in Great Britain, is done by this Parliament.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

Has due weight been given to the Minority Report attached to the Report to which my right hon. Friend has referred, in view of the fact that after the war it will take a long time before the population is properly settled?

Mr. Morrison

The Minority Report was in respect of the point as to whether there should be a redistribution in relation to a possible war-time election.

Mr. Hall

No.

Mr. Morrison

I thought that was the point. However, that factor will be borne in mind. I do not disguise from the House that there will be plenty of difficulties over a period of years until the population has more or less settled down.

Major Petherick

Do the Government intend, in the legislation it is proposed to introduce, to alter the number of Members of Parliament at the present time or not?

Mr. Morrison

I think it would be premature to give an answer to that question, but it would be made clear, I hope, when the legislation is brought in.

Mrs. Hardie

Will the question of the abolition of plural voting also be considered?

Mr. Morrison

That would not arise on this Bill. That would have to be considered in relation to the arguments about electoral reform of a wider character.

Mr. George Griffiths

rose—

Mr. Craven-Ellis

On a point of Order. I have risen three or four times, Mr. Speaker, in order to put a supplementary question.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member may rise as many times as he likes, but if he does not catch my eye, he is not entitled to address the House.