§ Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects work to begin on the next review of local government electoral arrangements in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland has a statutory duty664W to review the electoral arrangements for each region, islands area and district in the period of 10 to 15 years after the commission submitted its report on the initial review of each area. The commission submitted its reports on the islands areas in the period October 1976 to June 1977, on the regions in the period June 1977 to December 1978 and on the districts in the period July 1978 to April 1985.
My right hon. and learned Friend has approved a proposal by the commission to commence as soon as practicable the next statutory review of local government electoral arrangemens in the same order as that in which the commission submitted its reports on the initial review, i.e. the islands areas, the regions and finally the districts. The review will be conducted in accordance with the rules set out in schedule 6 to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.