HC Deb 13 February 1969 vol 777 cc1543-5
6. Mr. Ridley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to receive the reports of the Parliamentary Boundaries Commissions.

Mr. Callaghan

The Commissions for England, Wales and Northern Ireland will submit their reports before November, 1969.

Mr. Ridley

Did the right hon. Gentleman see the article in the Sunday Times saying that he had decided firmly and irrevocably not to implement the Commissions' reports? As this would be grossly improper, will the right hon. Gentleman take this opportunity to deny it and say that he has every intention of implementing them as soon as possible?

Mr. Callaghan

No doubt the hon. Gentleman knows that if he had attempted to put that question on the Order Paper he would not have been allowed to do so because neither he nor I is expected to comment on Press reports.

Mr. Hogg

Surely the Secretary of State is now in a position to give an assurance that he will implement his statutory duty to put into effect the Boundaries Commissions' reports as soon as may be and, in any event, before the next General Election?

Mr. Callaghan

The right hon. and learned Gentleman may be well aware that I am aware of my statutory obligations.

Sir D. Renton

It is six years since various county boundary changes were made affecting the counties of Huntingdon, Peterborough, Cambridge, the Isle of Ely, Bedford and Northampton. There are certain non-controversial Parliamentary boundary changes which should follow as a matter of course. How long will those Parliamentary boundary changes be held up?

Mr. Callaghan

I shall consider the matter when I receive the Commissions' reports.

Mr. Ogden

Since there may well be wide changes made in local government boundaries in the very near future, would it not be foolish to base Parliamentary boundaries on present local government boundaries?

Mr. Callaghan

I note that there seem to be opposing views on both sides of the House.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

In view of the delay in the reorganisation of Welsh local government boundaries, may I have an assurance that the same delay will not happen when the right hon. Gentleman has the report of the Welsh Commission on Parliamentary Boundaries?

Mr. Callaghan

The Act clearly lays down my obligations, and until I am relieved of those obligations they will have to be carried out. If I have any proposals to be relieved of them, I will bring them to the House.

Mr. Blackburn

Might not my right hon. Friend have some difficulty in carrying out the Opposition's wishes, because I understand that they are preparing for an election this October?

Mr. Callaghan

Election considerations would never enter my mind.

Mr. Ridley

In view of the thoroughly unsatisfactory nature of the right hon. Gentleman's last reply, I give notice that I intend to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.