Key Facts

• Ben Lake's amendment proposes inserting “and linguistic” after “local” in rule 5(1)(d).
• The Boundary Commission for Wales considers electoral wards, joint programmes, and the Welsh language when reviewing constituencies.
• Wales stands to lose seats in future reviews due to demographic changes.
• Maria Miller was brought up in south Wales.
• The Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986’s schedule 2 sets out rules for considering local ties, which can include language.
• The Welsh Government aims for one million Welsh speakers by 2050.
• Rule 5 in the 1986 Act is exceptionally important.
• There is a world of difference between inner Leeds and outer Leeds, highlighting different communities.
• The Boundary Commission for Wales takes language into account, as seen in proposals for Ceredigion and Machynlleth.
• The proposal is an amendment to a specific paragraph of the schedule in the Bill.
• The UK Government's manifesto commitment supports the ambition for 1 million people in Wales to speak Welsh by 2050.
• In 2017, the Boundary Commission for Wales adopted Welsh language standards applicable to its sister organisation and publishes all material bilingually.
• Maria Miller received a note from the Boundary Commission on June 29.
• The boundary commission's note addresses rules to achieve equal-sized constituencies at sub-ward level.
• Wards generally reflect communities of broad common interest, but there are exceptions.
• The focus is on polling district data which can be subject to political considerations.
• Scotland and Wales use postcode data in their assessments.
• The Boundary Commission spent £250,000 surveying polling districts between 2013 and 2018.
• One member of staff was given the task as a project by the Boundary Commission for England.
• Clause 6 discusses rules in schedule 2 regarding protected constituencies.
• The Parliamentary Constituencies Bill imposes a tight 5% tolerance on constituency sizes.
• Increasing the tolerance to 7.5% is proposed to provide more flexibility for boundary commissions.
• The current constraints make it difficult to consider geographical nature and community ties in constituency boundaries.
• Clause 8 removes the Government’s obligation to implement the 2018 boundary review recommendations.
• The proposed number of constituencies is set at 650 for future reviews.
• The effective date for clause 8 is March 24, when the decision was made to retain 650 constituencies.
• Clause 10 creates a buffer period where if the boundary review recommendations come into effect less than six months before an election, that poll will be conducted using old constituencies.
• The notice of election for the Northern Ireland Assembly must be published at least 25 working days ahead of an Assembly election.
• There is an exception during general elections when new constituencies would also be used for subsequent Northern Ireland Assembly elections if dissolution occurs.
• Amendment 11 in the schedule proposes changing "646" to "645".
• New clause 6 adds Ynys Môn as a protected constituency comprising the County of the Isle of Anglesey.
• New clause 10 amends rules for distribution of seats and electorate reduction for Wales.
• The Menai suspension bridge was built in 1826.
• Ynys Môn's electorate is more than 50,000 registered voters.
• The Isle of Wight has an electorate of more than 110,000.
• Orkney and Shetland have an electorate of 23,000.
• The Western Isles have an electorate of 15,000.
• Written evidence questions whether Ynys Môn deserves protected constituency status like the Western Isles.
• Mr Aaron Fear submitted recent written evidence questioning the island's claim based on proximity to the mainland.
• The Menai strait is described as a significant natural barrier, historically problematic for even the Romans.
• Ynys Môn covers more than 700 sq km and has a population of about 70,000 people.
• It is the ninth largest local authority in Wales by population.
• Ynys Môn fielded its own team for the Island games, competing globally.
• Since the 16th-century Acts of Union, Ynys Môn has continuously sent an MP to London except during the Barebones Parliament.
• Amendment 14 aims to provide protected status for Ynys Môn constituency.
• If amendment 14 is agreed, subsequent amendments will not be called.
• Ynys Môn has the second highest proportion of Welsh speakers at 57% by local authority in Wales.
• Ynys Môn is the fourth largest island in Great Britain by geographical size, excluding the mainland.
• Ynys Môn has an electorate of approximately 50,000 based on 2019 data.
• The amendment will ensure that Ynys Môn's electorate is not included in calculations for the number of constituencies in Wales.
• There are currently four protected constituencies: Orkney and Shetland, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, and two on the Isle of Wight.
• Eddie Hughes requested that further deliberations be adjourned.
• The session was ordered to adjourn until Two o'clock on the same day.