HC Deb 18 May 1992 vol 208 cc7-8W
Mr. Channon

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Parliamentary Boundary Commission's initial proposals for Essex to be published.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I understand that the Boundary Commission for England has not yet decided when it will publish its provisional recommendations for the county of Essex, although it is likely that this will be towards the end of the review.

Mrs. Roe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many constituencies would be created by the Boundary Commission if the present average number of electors in Scottish constituencies was applied to the whole of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

This would depend on decisions taken by the boundary commissions when reviewing individual constituency boundaries. However, the approximate numbers, based on figures derived from the 1992 register of electors, are given in the table.

Country Electorate Quota Number of seats
England 36,435,874 54,571 668
Wales 2,218,551 54,571 41
Scotland 3,929,112 54,571 72
Northern Ireland 1,141,466 54,571 21

Mrs. Roe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Members there would be representing each of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the basis of an average constituency throughout the United Kingdom of(a) 65,000 voters, (b) 70,000 voters and (c) 75,000 voters.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

This would depend on decisions taken by the boundary commissions when reviewing individual constituency boundaries. However, the approximate numbers, based on figures derived from the 1992 register of electors, are given in the table.

Country Electorate Quota Number of seats
(a)
England 36,435,874 65,000 561
Wales 2,218,551 65,000 34
Scotland 3,929,112 65,000 60
Northern Ireland 1,141,466 65,000 18
(b)
England 36,435,874 70,000 521
Wales 2,218,551 70,000 32
Scotland 3,929,112 70,000 56
Northern Ireland 1,141,466 70,000 16
(c)
England 36,435,874 75,000 486
Wales 2,218,551 75,000 30
Scotland 3,929,112 75,000 52
Northern Ireland 1,141,466 75,000 15

Mr. David Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Boundary Commission to report its recommendations on parliamentary representation in Suffolk; and what account he expects to be taken of the possible ending of county boundaries.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I understand that the Boundary Commission for England has not yet decided when it will publish its provisional recommendations for Suffolk, although it is likely to be towards the middle part of the review. The commission will continue to take account of alterations to county boundaries.