To ask the hon. Member for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the resources available to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to deliver electoral arrangements under the English Devolution White Paper.

To ask the hon. Member for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the resources available to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to deliver electoral arrangements under the English Devolution White Paper.

The commission’s approach to managing its work programme supports it with accommodating work arising from the “English Devolution” White Paper while still delivering periodic electoral reviews. The committee has agreed to some additional resourcing for the commission for this financial year. That will help to respond swiftly and effectively to any request for assistance in relation to the development of electoral and boundary arrangements for newly established unitary authorities.

The commission’s approach to managing its work programme supports it with accommodating work arising from the “English Devolution” White Paper while still delivering periodic electoral reviews. The committee has agreed to some additional resourcing for the commission for this financial year. That will help to respond swiftly and effectively to any request for assistance in relation to the development of electoral and boundary arrangements for newly established unitary authorities.

I declare an interest: I am a Central Bedfordshire councillor.

It is important that the boundary commission delivers electoral arrangements that provide strong local representation throughout English devolution. Will the hon. Member assure the House that resources available to the commission with be sufficient to ensure that representation is not sacrificed on the basis of arbitrary timelines for devolution?

I declare an interest: I am a Central Bedfordshire councillor.

It is important that the boundary commission delivers electoral arrangements that provide strong local representation throughout English devolution. Will the hon. Member assure the House that resources available to the commission with be sufficient to ensure that representation is not sacrificed on the basis of arbitrary timelines for devolution?

The hon. Member raises a good point and has some good inside information. Some £500,000 has been allocated, but the committee will keep that under periodic review in co-operation with the commission.

The hon. Member raises a good point and has some good inside information. Some £500,000 has been allocated, but the committee will keep that under periodic review in co-operation with the commission.

It is right that we have properly resourced boundary commissions, but we have more than one in England: the Boundary Commission for England and the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. Have there been conversations at the Electoral Commission or elsewhere about amalgamating those two commissions or pooling resources in order to save taxpayer money?

It is right that we have properly resourced boundary commissions, but we have more than one in England: the Boundary Commission for England and the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. Have there been conversations at the Electoral Commission or elsewhere about amalgamating those two commissions or pooling resources in order to save taxpayer money?

I am not aware of such conversations at the moment, but I will raise that with the commission on her behalf.

I am not aware of such conversations at the moment, but I will raise that with the commission on her behalf.

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, when the Electoral Commission will begin its consultation on the content of the question for the referendum extending the powers of the National Assembly for Wales; and for how long this consultation is...

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, when the Electoral Commission will begin its consultation on the content of the question for the referendum extending the powers of the National Assembly for Wales; and for how long this consultation is...

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whom the Electoral Commission plans to consult on the content of the question to be put in the referendum relating to the extension of powers of the National Assembly for Wales.

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whom the Electoral Commission plans to consult on the content of the question to be put in the referendum relating to the extension of powers of the National Assembly for Wales.

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if the Electoral Commission will publish its advice to the Wales Office on the form of the question to be put on the extension of powers of the National Assembly for Wales.

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if the Electoral Commission will publish its advice to the Wales Office on the form of the question to be put on the extension of powers of the National Assembly for Wales.

To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what (a) advice and (b) guidance the Electoral Commission has issued relating to holding a (i) nationwide referendum, (ii) mayoral referendum and (iii) local issues referendum under the Local Government Act 2003 at the same...

To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what (a) advice and (b) guidance the Electoral Commission has issued relating to holding a (i) nationwide referendum, (ii) mayoral referendum and (iii) local issues referendum under the Local Government Act 2003 at the same...