§ 12. Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any plans for proposing new parliamentary or local government boundaries in Wales.
§ Mr. GristParliamentary and local government electoral boundaries are matters for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to change local government administrative boundaries in Wales other than minor adjustments which might be recommended from time to time by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales.
§ Mr. HughesI expected that answer. In the light of the recent announcement by the Secretary of State for Wales, perhaps the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State would consider making representations to the Welsh Office. I say that as an expatriate Welshman. Given that the Welsh Office regularly has so much difficulty finding a Secretary of State within the boundaries of Wales, would not it be a good idea to continue the procedure adopted about 20 years ago when Gwent was formally added to Wales? Could not the boundaries be extended a little further, as that is the only way to ensure the probability, or even the possibility, of any future Tory Minister at the Welsh Office coming from a Welsh constituency?
§ Mr. GristThe hon. Gentleman is tempting us to spread Welsh Tory wings all the way into central London which was last attempted, with some success, towards the end of the 15th century.