HL Deb 10 October 2000 vol 617 cc225-6

(".—(1) The Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in Part I of Schedule (Transfer of functions of Boundary Commissions), by virtue of which—

  1. (a) the functions of each of the Boundary Commissions under section 3(1) and (3) of that Act (functions with respect to keeping under review, and reporting on, representation in the House of Commons of the part of the United Kingdom with which they are concerned) are transferred to the Electoral Commission; and
  2. (b) functions with respect to—
    1. (i) the carrying out of reviews under that Act with respect to a particular part of the United Kingdom, and
    2. (ii) the submission to the Electoral Commission of proposed recommendations following any such review,
    are conferred on the Boundary Committee established for that part of the United Kingdom under section 13 above.

(2) The consequential amendments of other Acts specified in Part II of Schedule (Transfer of functions of Boundary Commissions) shall have effect.

(3) A Boundary Commission shall cease to exist at such time as the Secretary of State, being satisfied that they have no further functions to perform, by order directs.

(4) In this section "Boundary Commission" means one of the Boundary Commissions constituted under that Act.").

On Question, amendment agreed to.

Clause 15 [Boundary Commissions: transfer of functions]:

On Question, Whether Clause 15 shall stand part of the Bill?

Lord Bach

We intend to oppose the Question that Clause 15 stand part of the Bill for the reason I have stated; that is, we are replacing it, effectively, with the new Schedule 3.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

A word count would show that the Government have replaced a very short clause with a substantial number of lines and words.

Lord Bach

I am sure that is right. However, if we have got it right, it is worth it.

Clause 15 negatived.

Clause 16 agreed to.

Clause 17 [Local Government Commission for England]:

[Amendment No. 53 not moved.]

Lord Bassam of Brighton moved Amendment No. 53A: Page 10, line 37, leave out ("the transfer to the Commission of any one or more") and insert ("and in connection with transferring to—

  1. (a) the Commission, or
    2. 226
  2. (b) the Boundary Committee for England, any").

On Question, amendment agreed to.

The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Lord Brougham and Vaux)

Before calling Amendment No. 53B, I must inform the Committee that if that amendment is agreed to, I cannot call Amendment No. 53C which stands in the names of the noble Lords, Lord McNally and Lord Rennard.

Lord Bassam of Brighton moved Amendment No. 53B: Page 10, line 41, leave out subsections (2) and (3) and insert— ("(2) The provision made by order under subsection (1) as respects the distribution of functions between the Commission and the Boundary Committee for England shall broadly correspond to that made by Part I of Schedule (Transfer of functions of Boundary Commissions) as respects the distribution of functions between those bodies. (3) The English Commission shall cease to exist at such time as the Secretary of State, being satisfied that they have no further functions to perform, by order directs.").

On Question, amendment agreed to.

[Amendment No. 53C not moved.]

Clause 17, as amended, agreed to.

[Amendment No. 54 had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List.]

Lord Bach moved Amendment No. 54A: After Clause 17, insert the following new clause—