HC Deb 27 June 1979 vol 969 cc180-1W
Dr. Edmund Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what minimum period of time needs to elapse, for practical reasons, between the approval of an order following submission of reports by the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions on a general review of constituency boundaries and the holding of the next following general election.

Mr. Whitelaw

An Order in Council defining new parliamentary constituencies takes effect 14 days after it has been made. A general election could be held on the basis of the new constituencies at any time after that date.