HC Deb 15 June 1978 vol 951 cc1158-9
3. Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will state the average number of electors in the 12 Northern Ireland constituencies on the latest register of electors.

Mr. Carter

On the 1978 register of electors the average is 86,142.

Mr. Farr

As that compares with an average of 64,088 for Great Britain, how much longer will Northern Ireland be deprived of proper political representation? When will the findings of the Speaker's Conference on Northern Ireland be implemented by the introduction of a Bill to put the matter right?

Mr. Carter

We will not be introducing immediate legislation. That was made known to the House by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House. Implementation depends to some extent on the outcome of the Boundary Commission's deliberations. The Commission will have to listen to opinion in Northern Ireland before coming to a conclusion and making recommendations.

Mr. Neave

Is the Minister aware that his reply is disappointing? Notwithstanding what the Leader of the House said, is the hon. Gentleman aware that on 19th April when the Prime Minister announced Mr. Speaker's recommendations he told my hon. Friend the Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) that he would consider publishing the Bill this Session? Will the Government give further consideration to that possibility in order to avoid delay and in view of the near unanimous nature of the findings of the Speaker's Conference?

Mr. Carter

Too much attention is being paid to that aspect of the issue. Even if a Bill were published, there would be no chance of any recommendations being implemented for the next General Election. That would have to take place afterwards, and so the timing is not as critical as the hon. Gentleman suggests.

Rev. Ian Paisley

Since a promise was made that the Boundary Commission could start preliminary work before the Bill was published or debated, will the Minister say whether the preliminary work has begun?

Mr. Carter

That is a matter for the Boundary Commission, but the original suggestion that it could start preliminary work stands, and it is probably looking at the matter now.