Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales

bcom On 4 March 2011, the Commission announced the 2013 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales in accordance with the provisions of the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 as amended by the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011.

A summary of the relevant statutory framework and of the Commission’s general approach to the reviews can be found in the Commission’s information booklet,“The 2013 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales – Information Booklet” (2011), which is available in English and Welsh from the Commission or on the Commission’s web-site at www.bcomm-wales.gov.uk|

The Commission is now publishing its initial proposals for public consultation. Those proposals take careful account of developments since the last general review, in particular the fundamental change to the legislation. It is emphasised, however, that the proposals are all provisional. References to proposals, recommendations, decisions and conclusions within this document should therefore be read accordingly. Most significantly, great importance is attached to the opportunity now given for all concerned to make representations to the Commission, whether in support of or objecting to the proposals.

The Commission has decided to publish initial proposals for the whole of Wales in a single document. Whereas in previous reviews it was possible to present proposals by reference to the 8 preserved counties of Wales, this is no longer possible. It has been necessary to conduct this review on an all-Wales basis.

Details of when and how to make representations are given in the attached pdf: 2013 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales|

The Council’s Response

At the Council Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 21st March, 2012, Members of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council will be considering the findings of the Cross Party Working Group which was established to consider the initial proposals in great depth in order that the Council’s response to the Initial Proposals can be forwarded to the Boundary Commission for Wales by the deadline of the 4th April, 2012.

Feedback

The Commission is required to consider representations about their initial proposals for the Review within 12 weeks of their publication date of 14th January, 2012. As the proposals are on an all-Wales basis, the Commission ask that all representations make it clear which area or areas they concern. The representation period will end on 4th April, 2012.

Representations should be addressed to:

The Boundary Commission for Wales,
Caradog House,
1-6 St Andrews Place,
Cardiff,
CF10 3BE,

faxed to 02920 395250,
or e-mailed to bcomm.wales@wales.gsi.gov.uk|.

Those who wish to make representations are requested to say whether they approve of, or object to, the Commission’s proposals and to give their reasons for their approval or objection. In particular, objectors are advised to say what they would propose as an alternative to the Commission’s proposals and should note that an objection accompanied by a counter-proposal is likely to carry more weight than a simple statement of objection. In this respect - and particularly in light of the importance of statutory electorate range - a counter-proposal setting out the composition of each constituency will generally be viewed as more persuasive than a proposal for the composition of only one constituency which does not address any likely consequential effects on the electorate figures of other constituencies.

The Commission wishes to stress that these proposals relate solely to the parliamentary constituencies and do not affect National Assembly for Wales constituencies, Unitary Authority, electoral division or community boundaries, taxes or services. The Commission will therefore not take account of any representation made about those issues. The Commission also wishes to stress that it will not consider the parts of representations where comment is made on the number of parliamentary seats allocated to Wales or on the statutory electorate range. These have been set by Parliament and cannot be changed by the Commission.