§ SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES IN ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS
§ Mr. CarlisleI beg to move Amendment No. 462, in page 29, line 20, leave out "1st April 1974, and thereafter" and insert:
the completion of the initial review of the electoral arrangements for counties under Schedule 9 below and thereafter, so far as is reasonably practicable".
Mr. Deputy SpeakerWith this Amendment it will be convenient to discuss Government Amendments Nos. 463 to 469, inclusive.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe effect of these Amendments together would be to leave the responsibility for the timing of the Local Government Boundary Commission reviews of electoral arrangements to the commission after it has conducted its initial review under Schedules 9 and 10.
This matter was raised in Committee when, it was felt wrong that the commis- 164 sion should in any way be subject to ministerial control. These Amendments would give the commission full discretion as to the timing of the reviews but the commission will still be required to review the electoral arrangements at intervals of 10 to 15 years and to consider whether to recommend changes. But it will be independent of ministerial control in the timing of these reviews. This meets the point made by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Small Heath (Mr. Denis Howell) in Committee.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI am much obliged. The hon. and learned Gentleman is quite right. We are glad that he has met the point.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Further Amendments made: No. 463, in page 29, line 30, leave out subsection (3).
§ No. 464, in page 29, line 42, leave out subsection (5).—[Mr. Carlisle.]