§ 18. Mr. Pollockasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the criteria which the Boundaries Commission must apply in determining district ward boundaries.
§ Mr. RifkindI am well aware that the statutory criteria which the commission is required to apply have given rise to criticism in a number of areas, as failing to allow sufficient weight to be attached to local ties. There is, however, no doubt that Parliament clearly intended that parity of electorates should be the overriding factor when it passed the appropriate clauses in the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. It would be premature to contemplate altering the criteria before the commission has completed the current initial review, which is now very far advanced, but I would be glad to receive representations regarding any future changes.