§ Mr. AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement of progress on the work of the boundary commissions on parliamentary constituencies; and when he expects the new boundaries to take effect.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe boundary commissions have a duty to keep the distribution of seats under continuous review. They are also required to present reports on the whole country 10 to 15 years after their previous report. The English commission's next such report is due between 1993 and 1998. I understand that the commission is likely to begin work in 1991. At present the commission is reviewing the Buckingham and Milton Keynes constituencies; revised draft proposals were published in November 1989, and in due course it will report. New parliamentary constituency boundaries come into effect at the general election following Parliament's approval of the commission's recommendations and the making of an Order in Council.