§ 1. Mr. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to alter the power of the Boundary Commission to revise Parliamentary boundaries every five years and to substitute a period of fifteen years, and further to ensure that in future greater weight is given to local associations and less importance put on arithmetical considerations.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister for Welsh Affairs (Major Gwilym Lloyd-George)I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21st June to a Question by the hon. Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Philips Price).
§ Mr. OsborneIs not my light hon. and gallant Friend aware that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction in the constituencies as well as on both sides of the House at the changes recommended by the Boundary Commission? Would he consider these points in the future?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeMy hon. Friend will remember that when we were discussing this matter some time ago in the 534 House I indicated that this was one of the questions which the Government would be prepared to consider sympathetically. As my right hon. Friend stated, the matter is receiving attention, but I am not in a position to make a statement at the moment.