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Report published on the Parliamentary Constituencies Bill

4 September 2020

The Constitution Committee has published its 13th report of the session on the Parliamentary Constituencies Bill

Background 

The Bill amends the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 to provide for: the number of parliamentary constituencies, the setting of parliamentary constituency boundaries, and the conduct of reviews by the four United Kingdom Boundary Commissions.

Key findings 

  • The Committee finds the removal of Parliament's power to block Boundary Commission recommendations constitutionally appropriate and therefore welcome.  
  • Automatic implementation of Boundary Commission recommendations will only protect against undue political influence if they are themselves genuinely independent. 
  • The Committee recommends that the House may wish to consider what safeguards are required to ensure the independence and impartiality of the Boundary Commissions and their recommendations.