Written question asked by Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord McNally (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 21 July 2010.

Parliamentary Constituencies

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the target number of registered electors in the average constituency under their proposal for a House of Commons of 600 seats.

Answer: As my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister said in his Statement in another place on 5 July (Official Report, col. 24), the legislation we are putting forward will: "““require the Boundary Commissions to set new constituencies within 5 per cent of a target quota of registered electors, with just two exceptions: Orkney and Shetland, and the Western Isles, which are uniquely placed, given their locations. ...We have listened also to those who have very large constituencies, so the Bill will provide that no constituency will be larger than the size of the largest one now'””" The quota will be calculated by dividing the total electorate of the United Kingdom from the register published on 1 December 2010 by the number of remaining seats (excluding the electorates of the excepted Scottish island seats which will be taken away from the total electorate). If the register from 1 December 2009 were used, the electoral quota for the UK would be around 76,000.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 1077; 720 c226WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Political and Constitutional Reform
Monday, 5 July 2010
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Lords
Subjects: Constituency size Parliament
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk