HL Deb 28 November 1985 vol 468 cc974-5

3.21 p.m.

The Earl of Kinnoull

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government which are the largest and smallest parliamentary constituencies in the country; what is the population in each; and what is the average size throughout the country

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, the largest constituency is the Isle of Wight, with 97,608 electors, and the smallest is the Western Isles, with 23,035 electors. The average electorate for all the constituencies in the United Kingdom is 66,355.

The Earl of Kinnoull

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that informative and revealing reply. However, would he agree that the electorate of the Isle of Wight—and I must declare an interest—has a fairly poor deal? Is the noble Lord aware that the island has special problems, with an annual growth rate of 1 per cent., an overworked Member of Parliament, and an under-represented electorate, and that it deserves to have two Members of Parliament? Would the noble Lord further agree that the matter should not be left to the Parliamentary Boundary Commission to consider in, say, 10 years' time, but should be reviewed now?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, there are difficulties associated with the "co-terminusity" (if that is the right word to use) between different boundaries—boundaries of local authorities and of constituencies. However, I do not think that this matter can be looked at earlier than when the Boundary Commission is scheduled to consider it, which will be between 1993 and 1998.

Lord Whaddon

My Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that the reply that he has just given merely underlines the inherent difficulties with our first-past-the-post system, and that it really is time we went over to a system of proportional representation?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, it may indicate all sorts of things, but I think that comment goes wide of the Question on the Order Paper.

Viscount Tonypandy

My Lords, would it not be advisable for this House to leave to another House and those who are elected the question of deciding parliamentary boundaries? Is the noble Lord the Minister of the opinion that it is asking for trouble between both Houses if we seek to decide constituency boundaries?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I think that the noble Viscount puts his finger on a very good point.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, while I thoroughly agree with the point of view that has just been expressed. I think your Lordships will recall that we discuss in this Chamber the reports of the Parliamentary Boundary Commission. Does the Minister recall that when we debated the 1983 report there was some criticism—and I was one of the critics—that the Commission had to base its electoral findings on when it first started its review, which meant that the electorate figures on which the Commission reported were seven years old? Do the Government have it in mind to look at the entire rules of the Boundary Commission and have discussions with the political parties about amending the rules?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, we have said that we should like the Select Committee on Home Affairs in another place to carry out a review of the procedures. Failing that, we shall look at the other ways in which a review could be undertaken. There is still plenty of time before the Commission starts work.

Lord Tordoff

My Lords, with regard to something which the noble Earl, Lord Kinnoull, said earlier, would the noble Lord the Minister not agree that it might be unfortunate if stating that the Isle of Wight was served by an overworked Member of Parliament and was under-represented should be thought to be a criticism from this House of a Member in another place?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I do not think I commented on those particular remarks of my noble friend. I am sure they will be taken in good spirit in another place.

The Earl of Kinnoull

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight is an outstanding Member of Parliament, even though he comes from the Liberal Party? What my Question was seeking to bring out—which, I say in deference to the noble Lord, Lord Tordoff, is a serious matter—is that one Member of Parliament is representing in this case 97,000 people and in another case only 23,000 people.

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I realise that, but I cannot go any further than I have done. These matters will be considered when the Commission looks at them in years to come.