Boundary reshuffle feedback published
The Boundary Commission for England is due to publish online all the responses received on its initial proposals for the new Parliamentary constituencies at midday on Tuesday.
The publication of the responses will mark the start of a four-week public consultation where people can let the Commission know the extent to which they disagree with or support any of those earlier representations made by others. The representations include the written responses received during the Commission's 12-week consultation period which closed in December, and the oral representations made at 36 public hearings in October and November.
The proposed constituency list contained seven fewer seats in the North West.
Simon James, secretary to the commission, said: "More than 40,000 [people] have already had their say and we are looking forward to people joining the debate and letting us know what they think of the comments already received."
After completion of the secondary consultation period, the Commission will consider whether to revise any of its initial proposals for constituencies. The Commission will conduct another consultation on any revisions that are made.
The Boundary Commission for England is an independent and impartial non-departmental public body, which is responsible for reviewing Parliamentary constituency boundaries in England. The BCE is reviewing Parliamentary boundaries following the new rules laid down in the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 and will deliver its final recommendations by 1 October 2013. The 2011 Act reduces the number of constituencies from 650 to 600. England has been allocated 502 constituencies; two of these constituencies are expressly reserved for the Isle of Wight. The Act requires that each constituency must have an electorate that is no less than 95% and no more than 105% of the 'UK electoral quota'. The UK electoral quota for the 2013 Review is, to the nearest whole number, 76,641.
People can view responses and send further written comments to the commission at consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk , by email at information@bcommengland.x.gsi.gov.uk or by post to 35 Great Smith St, London, SW1P 3BQ.
The latest consultation ends midday on 3 April 2012.
