HC Deb 24 January 1974 vol 867 cc1884-5
18. Mr. Sydney Chapman

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to change the rules for redistribution of seats under the Second Schedule to the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949, as amended, so that Boundary Commissions may take into consideration anticipated changes in population.

Mr. Carlisle

My right hon. Friend will consider the need for amending legislation in the light of any recommendations made by Mr. Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law.

Mr. Chapman

I thank my hon. and learned Friend for that reply. Does he not agree that the system needs changing because already the new parliamentary constituency boundaries are out of date and fail totally to take into consideration dramatic changes in the location of population due to new towns, overspill estates and slum clearance?

Mr. Carlisle

I cannot comment on the merits of the matters raised in the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question. Rules 4 to 7 of the Redistribution Rules is one of the matters for discussion by Mr. Speaker's Conference, and we must await consideration of it by Mr. Speaker and his Conference.

On the second part of my hon. Friend's question, it is quite true that there will be a need for a future major review of boundaries. It is hoped that that will be achieved by 1979, which is the first year statutorily that the Boundaries Commission can next report.