Key Facts

• Roger Pratt is the boundary review director for the Conservative party.
• Electoral registers are used annually and have been since 1948 under a Labour Government recommendation.
• The March 2020 data is considered more robust than December 2020 figures due to marked differences in electorates.
• Wales will lose eight seats under the Bill.
• Scotland may lose two or three seats, depending on figures from 2 March.
• The proposed quota ensures equal representation across all parts of the UK.
• The largest constituency in the United Kingdom is currently 12,000 sq km.
• The UK should have a fair and equal quota system for constituencies.
• Scotland's representation in Parliament will remain slightly larger due to the Western Isles, Orkney, and Shetland.
• There are about 55,000 people in the proposed Isle of Wight constituency that would link with part of the mainland.
• Tom Adams is the acting director of data and targeting for the Labour party.
• The Bill proposes automatic implementation of boundary commission recommendations without political influence.
• There were previous reviews recommending a reduction to 600 seats, which would not have been implementable if current rules had been in place.
• The Government has significant influence over the guidelines set by commissions.
• A Labour Government might propose different thresholds in the Bill.
• Some wards in Birmingham have up to 20,000 electors.
• Polling districts lack clear legal status and can be changed frequently by councils.
• Using the March 2020 register is preferred over December 2020 for boundary changes.
• Scotland may lose around three seats under proposed changes.
• Wales may lose around eight seats under proposed changes.
• Wales is due to lose eight seats under current proposals.
• The Labour party finds the commission generally flexible and accommodating.
• A 7.5% threshold instead of 5% would improve ability to maintain community ties.
• Ian Paisley Jnr is chairing the Public Bill Committee session.
• Dave McCobb, deputy director of campaigns and elections for the Liberal Democrats, is providing evidence.
• The discussion centres on maintaining 650 constituencies in the legislation.
• The 5% threshold reduces commission’s flexibility.
• Constituencies could be constructed arbitrarily and not align with natural communities.
• Brecon and Radnorshire constituency is larger than Luxembourg.
• Scotland currently has 59 seats in the UK Parliament.
• Scott Martin is the solicitor for the Scottish National party.
• Highland North is a constituency with vast areas, making it difficult to represent effectively.
• There are two protected constituencies in Scotland due to geographical reasons.
• The Scottish National party advocates for zero Westminster constituencies in Scotland.
• SNP expects Scotland may lose two seats rather than three with current formulas.
• Attainers, individuals who turn 18 after the relevant date for the census, have a higher percentage in Scotland due to factors like voting at 16 and life expectancy.
• Parliamentary constituencies in Scotland are based on wards without splitting, contrasting with the situation in England.
• Ynys Môn is a unique constituency that should be protected.
• The previous review would have reduced the number of MPs in Wales, leading to an imbalance with England gaining more MPs.
• A variance beyond the 5% threshold, such as 7.5%, could help mitigate geographical challenges.
• The Boundary Commission focuses on geographical ties like shopping centres and travel-to-work areas.
• Previous attempts have been made to address splitting Welsh language communities by the Boundary Commission.
• Local development plans in Wales are required to conduct language impact assessments under the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011.
• Ian Paisley Jnr is chairing the Public Bill Committee session.
• Professor Richard Wyn Jones of the Wales Governance Centre will provide evidence on the Parliamentary Constituencies Bill.
• Commissioners are judge-led and have a very high reputation.
• The professor has no particularly strong view as to whether there should be 600, 625 or 650 seats in the House of Commons.
• Wales has substantial differences in constituency sizes, with Arfon being one extreme and Cardiff South and Penarth another.
• The reduction from 650 constituencies was not politically viable.
• Wales has been overrepresented with 6% of MPs for a 5% share of the electorate.
• England's population is estimated to increase by about 8 million in the next 20 years.
• The current system is heavily weighted against more built-up areas compared to a century ago.
• Professor Jones struggles to make an argument for rural rurality issues in the Welsh context, except for very northern parts of Scotland or Shetland and Orkney.
• A previous proposal to reduce MPs from 650 to 600 was politically unviable due to lack of support among elected members.
• The Committee has taken evidence from nine witnesses during this session.
• Professor Wyn Jones presented evidence to the Committee.
• The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 23 June at 9.25 am.