Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Local Government Boundary Commission for England

07 September 2020 · 2 other contributors

Opened by Valerie Vaz Lab Walsall and Bloxwich

Parliamentary ProcedureLocal Government

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Valerie Vaz raised concerns about local government boundary commission for england in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

Key points

  • Ms Vaz thanked the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission for their second report which positively assessed Professor Colin Mellors' approach to chairing the Local Government Boundary Commission for England
  • The committee highlighted that Professor Mellors effectively maintained the commission's independence, impartiality, and credibility while taking an open and inclusive approach to his role
  • Professor Mellors ensured careful scrutiny of the commission's finances to deliver value for money and supported the Government's motion endorsing his position

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Valerie Vaz Lab Walsall and Bloxwich

Ms Vaz thanked the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission for their second report, which positively assessed Professor Colin Mellors' approach to chairing the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The committee highlighted that Professor Mellors had taken an open and inclusive approach to his role, effectively maintained the commission's independence, impartiality and credibility, and brought a strong understanding of the local government sector and wider policy context. She noted that he ensured careful scrutiny of the commission’s finances to deliver value for money, and supported the Government’s motion endorsing Professor Mellors.

Other contributors (2)
  • Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale

    Mr Farron expressed support for the appointment of Professor Colin Mellors while questioning the wisdom of engaging in a top-down restructuring of local government during the current crisis. He argued that focusing on such reorganisation would distract local authorities from their primary responsibilities, including tackling public health issues and supporting communities economically.

  • Stuart Andrew Con Daventry

    Mr Andrew echoed some of Mr Farron’s concerns but expressed confidence in Professor Mellors’ capabilities to handle any challenges. He noted that the positive references given by previous speakers mean that Professor Mellors is well-prepared for his role.

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