Boundary Commission for Scotland (Hansard, 29 April 1983)

Mr. Tom Ellis
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people have been employed (a) on a full-time basis and (b) on a part-time basis by the Boundary Commission for Scotland during the period of the recent parliamentary boundaries review.

§ Mr. Allan Stewart
Throughout the period of the recent review of parliamentary constituencies, which began in February 1978, one person was employed full-time and four part-time on work for the Boundary Commission for Scotland.

Mr. Tom Ellis
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many objectors gave evidence at hearings arranged by the Boundary Commission for Scotland during its recent parliamentary boundaries review.

§ Mr. Allan Stewart
Those who gave evidence or made statements at the 12 local inquiries held in Scotland included some 280 objectors to the commission's proposals.

Mr. Tom Ellis
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average number per constituency of written and oral objections lodged with the Boundary Commission for Scotland following the publication of its initial proposals in the recent parliamentary boundaries review.

Year Salaries* Other administrative costs† Local inquiries‡ Total

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

1978–79|| 8,259 4,525 — 12,784

1979–80 9,453 43 — 9,496

1980–81 13,689 12,504 — 26,193

1981–82 15,330 21,883 12,214 49,427

1982–83 19,479 31,216 3,640 54,335

66,210 70,171 15,854 152,235

* The members of the commission are unpaid but are reimbursed travelling and subsistence expenses which are included in col (3). The salary costs are those of the staff for the proportion of their time spent on boundary commission work which increased as the review progressed.

† These costs relate mainly to the cost of press advertisements announcing the commission's proposals and the holding of local inquiries.

‡ These costs comprise the fees and expenses of the assistant commissioners who held local inquiries and of the shorthand writers, and the hiring of halls.

|| The figures in 1978–79 include costs incurred in reporting in 1978 on the European Parliament constituencies.

Year	Salaries*	Other administrative costs†	Local inquiries‡	Total
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
1978–79\|\|	8,259	4,525	—	12,784
1979–80	9,453	43	—	9,496
1980–81	13,689	12,504	—	26,193
1981–82	15,330	21,883	12,214	49,427
1982–83	19,479	31,216	3,640	54,335
	66,210	70,171	15,854	152,235
* The members of the commission are unpaid but are reimbursed travelling and subsistence expenses which are included in col (3). The salary costs are those of the staff for the proportion of their time spent on boundary commission work which increased as the review progressed.
† These costs relate mainly to the cost of press advertisements announcing the commission's proposals and the holding of local inquiries.
‡ These costs comprise the fees and expenses of the assistant commissioners who held local inquiries and of the shorthand writers, and the hiring of halls.
\|\| The figures in 1978–79 include costs incurred in reporting in 1978 on the European Parliament constituencies.