Written question asked by Jack Straw (Labour) on Wednesday, 7 July 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 13 July 2010. It was answered by Lord Harper (Conservative) on Tuesday, 13 July 2010 on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Constituencies: Boundary Commissions

Question: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether an equality impact assessment will be produced for his legislation to change parliamentary constituency boundaries.

Answer: As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 24, a Bill will be introduced before the summer recess to implement the coalition agreement commitment to make provision for the creation of fewer and more equal sized constituencies. The Cabinet Office will follow the departmental policy of carrying out an initial screening exercise to assess whether the policy has any adverse equality impacts and, if this process establishes that an equality impact assessment is necessary, one will be produced.

Secondary information