Local Government Boundary Commission for England 2025-05-22
2025-05-22
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The Local Government Boundary Commission is managing its work programme in response to the 'English Devolution' White Paper and conducting periodic electoral reviews. Blake Stephenson, a Central Bedfordshire councillor, raises concerns about resources.
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.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The Local Government Boundary Commission has been allocated £500,000 to manage its work programme. Dame Meg Hillier asks about the possibility of amalgamating or pooling resources between two boundary commissions in England.
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.
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Assessment & feedback
concrete discussions or plans for amalgamation/resource pooling have not been mentioned
Not Aware
Response accuracy