Parliamentary Boundary Commissions (Hansard, 21 November 1974)

6. Mr. Model
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the terms of reference of the Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries Commission; and if he will make a statement.

§ Dr. Summerskill
The terms of reference of the parliamentary boundary commissions, which are set out in the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Acts 1949 and 1958, already allow the commissions a good deal of latitude in their work. If there are any suggestions for improvement in the redistribution rules we should be glad to consider how these might best be examined.

§ Mr. Madel
Does the hon. Lady feel, in the case of English constituencies, that the boundary commission should make more frequent alterations to constituencies regardless of local authority boundaries, so that the average constituency 1504 has an electorate of about 60,000 and not, as at present, some with 30,000 and others with 90,000? Is not the present position unsatisfactory?

§ Dr. Summerskill
I appreciate that there is a wide variation in the size of constituencies. It is difficult for the commissions to review constituencies with very large or very small electorates in complete isolation, because of the unavoidable repercussions that this would have on neighbouring constituencies. It is best for the commissions to consider all constituencies together.

§ Sir David Renton
Do not the terms of reference require the commissions to take note as soon as may be of changes in local government boundaries? Will the hon. Lady invite the attention of the commissions to the fact that substantial changes were made in the local government boundaries with effect from 1st April of this year and that action should be taken as soon as possible to revise the parliamentary boundaries accordingly?

§ Dr. Summerskill
The commissions are aware that local government reorganisation has thrown many constituency boundaries out of line with local government boundaries. The commissions seem likely to report in 1979, after the local government boundaries commissions have done their work.