HC Deb 13 July 1981 vol 8 c275W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the electoral quotas for parliamentary constituencies in Wales differ from those in Scotland and England.

Mr. Mayhew

Section 3 of the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1958 amends rule 5 of the rules for redistribution of seats set out in the second schedule to the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949, so that the electoral quota is determined separately for each constituent part of the United Kingdom by dividing the electorate for that part of the United Kingdom by the number of constituencies in it existing on the enumeration date. Rule 1 of the rules for redistribution

Police Officers Civilians Traffic Wardens Police Vehicles Motorcycles Helicopter Radios
Men Women
29 September 1945 56,924* 402 1,271 N/A N/A
1 January 1981 106,993 10,430 37,694 4,296 19,658 2,901 1 75,000†
* Average daily strength for year ended 29.9.1945, not including police war reserve.
† Approximate figure.