§ Lord Waddingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether consultation has taken place in Bermuda with regard to the recent proposals for constitutional reform; whether they considered such consultation satisfactory; and whether they consider that the people of Bermuda are in favour of single member constituencies and a reduction in the size of the House of Assembly. [HL252]
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§ Baroness AmosYes. The Government of Bermuda's proposals to amend the constitution were presented to the Bermuda Legislature on 18 August 2000. The proposals were discussed in the local media and a series of public meetings were held in the autumn. Following this public debate the proposals were debated in the Bermuda House of Assembly and Senate. A resolution was passed by the House of Assembly requesting that an Order in Council be made to implement the proposals. An FCO team visited Bermuda at the beginning of April to hold consultations with the political parties and interested members of the public about the various proposals for constitutional reform. The proposal for single member constituencies reflects a pre-election manifesto commitment of the Government of Bermuda and has been endorsed by resolution of the House of Assembly. However, there will be a further opportunity to discuss proposed changes to the electoral system when the Constituency Boundaries Commission has made its report. It is premature to say that the House of Assembly will be reduced in size. Given the prescribed parameters of 20 to 40 constituencies, the commission's recommendations would not necessarily be to the effect that the number of Members of the House should be reduced from the current 40.
§ Lord Waddingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why it is proposed to change the Bermuda constitution, empowering a boundaries commission to make recommendations as to whether there should be single member constituencies and how many seats there should be in the House of Assembly, without there first being a constitutional conference to seek agreement on these matters; and whether these arrangements are compatible with the undertaking given by the British Government in 1966 that no major change in the constitution would be made without such a conference. [HL253]
§ Baroness AmosHer Majesty's Government responded to the request by the democratically elected Government of Bermuda to take forward their proposals to amend the Bermuda constitution. Ministers have approved a draft Order in Council which,inter alia, will enable the Constituency Boundaries Commission to recommend the number and boundaries of constituencies in a report to the Governor. The commission would act in accordance with prescribed terms of reference and invite views from the public. The commission's report would be debated in the House of Assembly and the Governor would be required to transmit it, with the views of the House, to the Secretary of State. The report would then be considered.
Before making any decision on the commission's recommendations, further consultation with Bermuda would be required, and the Secretary of State would wish to take into account the report and local reactions to it. It would be premature now to decide that in any event a constitutional conference should be held or a referendum organised. But neither option has been 204WA ruled out. Her Majesty's Government will consider all possible options at the time. The Government do not believe that the present draft Order in Council will make major changes to the Bermuda constitution.