§ 8. Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the Advisory Committee on Local Government Boundaries.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe committee has concluded its initial consideration of proposals for electoral areas. Draft schemes giving effect to its recommendations will be sent to local authorities shortly for publication. The committee 1273 will later re-examine the proposals in the light of any further observations received by my right hon. Friend's Department and then submit its final recommendations to him.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Minister aware from previous correspondence that there is serious concern about the manner in which the advisory committee has conducted its business, that proposals for district council boundaries were asked for initially from the local authorities, that the local authorities submitted their proposals and that the advisory committee, rather surprisingly, favoured proposals sent in by the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Association Central Office? Does not the Under-Secretary agree that the advisory committee was ill-advised to favour those proposals when no political party was invited to submit its ideas?
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI have explained matters to the hon. Gentleman in a letter. Copies of the Department's provisional proposals were sent to the main political party organisations in Scotland and observations were received from the different parties. Any observations, from whatever source, were submitted to the advisory committee. That committee is totally independent and the Secretary of State has not sought in any way to influence its conduct.
§ Mr. HughesOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment.