HC Deb 13 February 1951 vol 484 cc359-61
The Under-Secretary of State to the Home Department (Mr. Geoffrey de Freitas)

I beg to move, That the Draft House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Order, 1951, a copy of which was laid before this House on 13th December, 1950, be approved. There are eight of these draft Orders on the Order Paper. In moving the first relating to Leeds, I should explain that all these Orders put into effect without modification the recommendations made by the Boundary Commission for England. Hon. Members will recall that the Commission's Report was laid before Parliament on 13th December last. All the Orders would come into force on 1st April, 1951, but in accordance with Section 3 (6) of the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act, 1949, they will not affect any Parliamentary election until the next General Election.

The first Order, which relates to Leeds, brings the constituency boundaries into conformity with the ward boundaries. The ward boundaries have recently been revised by Order in Council. The next six Orders bring the constituency boundaries into conformity with the borough boundaries which have been extended by local Acts during 1950. The last Order relates to Lundy Island. Lundy was not mentioned in the Boundary Commission's initial Report, nor, consequently, in the Schedule to the Representation of the People Act, 1948, and there is some doubt as to which constituency Lundy is in. This Order makes it plain that it is in the Torrington constituency.

Resolved: That the Draft House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Order, 1951, a copy of which was laid before this House on 13th December, 1950, be approved.

[Mr. de Freitas.]