§ Mr. Rookerasked the Lord President of the Council what is the purpose of the power to make minor adjustments in the date of elections in the proposed Scottish Assembly.
§ Mr. Edward ShortThe power to make minor adjustments in the date of elections, which will apply to both the Scottish and the Welsh Assemblies is intended for use where external circumstances, such as a General Election make this desirable. The maximum period of adjustment would be laid down in the devolution legislation.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the origin of the formula used in paragraph 33 of Command Paper No. 6348
§ Mr. Edward ShortThe formula for dividing parliamentary constituencies for the purpose of Scottish and Welsh Assembly elections was devised by the Government. It seeks to retain links with the Westminster electorate system and constituency pattern, while achieving as great a degree of equality as possible in the size of Assembly constituencies.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the envisaged functions of the Assistants to the Executive proposed in paragraph 45 of Command Paper No. 6348.
§ Mr. Edward ShortThe Assistants to the Scottish Executive will carry out a rôle similar to that of Parliamentary Secretaries in the Government, assisting particular Executive Members in the exercise of such responsibilities as are allotted to them.