§ Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will set out the time scale within which the Boundary Commission intends to examine the parliamentary constituencies within the London borough of Haringey, indicating when it hopes to commence and the date by which it anticipates the announcement of its final conclusions;
(2) if he will set out the criteria to be adopted by the Parliamentary Boundary Commission when it deals with the London parliamentary constituencies, indicating target electorate size, coterminosity within borough boundaries together with some indication when he expects the new constituencies to be put into practice.
§ Mr. JohnThe provisions for a review of constituencies by the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England are contained in the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Acts 1949 and 1958. The redistribution rules in Schedule 2 to the Act of 1949 provide for the calculation of an electoral quota and the observance of London borough boundaries so far as is practicable. The electoral quota for the Commission's current general review is 65,753 electors per constituency. Other provisions relate to the circumstances in which the Commission may depart from the strict application of the electoral quota.
The Commission is required to submit its report on the current general review of all constituencies in England between April 1979 and April 1984. The new constituencies take effect at the General Election which follows the making of an Order in Council implementing the Commission's report, with or without modifications. The draft order is subject to the approval of both Houses of Parliament. 848W I understand that the Commission may publish provisional recommendations for constituencies in London boroughs later this year.