HC Deb 08 October 1946 vol 427 cc11-2
24. Mr. Thornton-Kemsley

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, when, and in what form, the proposals of the Boundary Commission regarding the re-division of certain Parliamentary constituencies in Scotland will be laid before Parliament; and from what date the approved changes will be effective.

Mr. Westwood

I understand that the initial Report of the Boundary Commission showing the constituencies into which they recommend that Scotland should be divided and the number of Members which they recommend should be returned by each of them is likely to be submitted towards the end of this year. The Secretary of State is required to lay the Report before Parliament as soon as may be after its submission to him. It will be for Parliament to determine by legislation from what date such changes as may be approved shall be effective; and for practical reasons that date must presumably be the date of a General Election.

Mr. Thornton-Kemsley

When these proposals are laid before Parliament, will they be laid in a form in which they can be debated in detail?

Mr. Westwood

I should require notice of that question, and if I am given notice of it, I will endeavour to give the hon. Member an answer.

Mr. Thornton-Kemsley

My supplementary question specifically asked in what form the proposals would be laid. If the Secretary of State can give me an answer on that, I think I would know the answer to my Question.

Mr. Westwood

There will have to be a Bill about the new constituencies in due course.

Mr. Henderson Stewart

Is not the Secretary of State able to say now whether the schemes of the Commission will be presented in toto, to be objected to or accepted in toto by the House?

Mr. Westwood

The proposals will be embodied in a Bill. Beyond that I cannot go at the moment.

Mr. Bowles

Cannot the Secretary of State, the Lord President and the Home Secretary now give us an undertaking that the proposals will be put into the Schedule to the Bill, and can, therefore, be amended?

Mr. Westwood

Surely, if they are in the Schedule to a Bill, that will be in due Parliamentary form. That is what we propose to do as far as these proposals are concerned.