§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest date by which the Boundary Commission for Scotland's recommendations for the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies in Scotland would have to be enacted by Order in Council in order to take effect for a Scottish parliamentary election in 2007. [8864]
§ Mrs. LiddellThis will depend on the nature of the recommendations in the Boundary Commission's report.
§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the circumstances in which she would seek to make modifications under the terms of section 4 of the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 to the recommendations contained in the next report of the Boundary Commission for Scotland on the general review of the parliamentary constituencies in Scotland. [8848]
§ Mrs. LiddellI will be able to consider whether modifications to the Boundary Commission's recommendations might be appropriate only once I have received and studied its report.
353W
§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she expects to receive from the Boundary Commission for Scotland their final report on the general review of parliamentary constituencies in Scotland. [8863]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe Boundary Commission for Scotland is required, by the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, to submit its report to me between December 2002 and December 2006. It is a matter for the Commission when, within that time scale, it reports.
§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the revised constituency and regional boundaries to be recommended by the Boundary Commission for Scotland by December 2006 will be used for the 2007 Scottish parliamentary elections. [8865]
§ Mrs. LiddellThis will depend on the date the Boundary Commission submits its report. It is not envisaged that changed boundary arrangements for the Scottish Parliament would be implemented before 2007.
§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is her policy that(a) the boundaries of Scottish parliamentary constituencies should be coterminous with constituencies used to elect Scottish hon. Members of the House of Commons and (b) the ratio of constituency to regional members should remain as set out in the Scotland Act 1998. [8847]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe statutory position on the boundaries of Scottish parliamentary constituencies and the ratio of constituency to regional members is set out in Schedule 1 of the Scotland Act 1998.
The Government have, however, made it clear that if a good case for changing the Scotland Act is made, in the light of experience in the Scottish Parliament, we will consider it.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the parliamentary Boundary Commission for Scotland began its review of Scottish constituencies; when she expects to receive its report; and if she will make a statement. [9740]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe Boundary Commission for Scotland gave notice in theEdinburgh Gazette on 29 June 2001 of its intention to commence forthwith its general review of constituencies in Scotland.
£ million Grant receiving body 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Scottish Screen 1.8 2.0 1.8 — — Sgrîn 0.3 0.3 0.3 — — Northern Ireland Film Commission and other grants 0.3 0.7 0.8 1.1 — British Film Institute 16.5 16.0 15.1 16.91 — British Screen Finance 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 — British Film Commission 0.8 0.85 0.85 0.85 — European Co-Production Fund 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 — National Film and Television School 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 Film Council — — — 0.5 21.8 Total 25.6 25.9 24.9 25.6 24.1 Notes:
The Film Council became operational in April 2000. It now funds the British Film Institute from the grant-in-aid it receives from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The British Film Commission is now part of the Film Council. British Screen Finance and the European Co-Production Fund have been absorbed into the Film Council.
Figures shown for Sgrîn, Scottish Screen and the Northern Ireland Film Commission are pre-devolution.
354WThe Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 requires the Commission to submit its report to me not less than eight or more than 12 years from the date of its last report. Its next report is therefore due between December 2002 and December 2006. It is a matter for the Commission when, within that time scale, it reports.