Scottish Parliamentary Boundaries

Danny Alexander Excerpts

Wednesday 26th May 2010 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Danny Alexander)]

I am pleased to announce that following receipt of the Boundary Commission for Scotland’s “Report on the First Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries”, and in line with my statutory obligations under paragraph 3(9)(a) of schedule 1 of the Scotland Act, I have today laid a copy of the Commission’s report before Parliament.

The Boundary Commission is an independent body and Ministers have no power to direct the Commission to make changes to any of its recommendations.

The Boundary Commission’s report is accompanied by two DVD-ROMs containing geographical information system data defining the constituency boundaries. This approach was necessary because a number of the recommended Scottish Parliament constituencies have boundaries which do not follow existing local government ward boundaries. Previous parliamentary, and therefore Scottish Parliament, constituencies have been made up of complete local government wards which are defined in existing legislation and can be referred to by listing the ward names. The level of detail required to define the constituency boundaries means that the boundaries could not practically be shown on traditional maps at an appropriate scale. The local government wards (and part wards) which fall within the constituencies are listed in the appendices to the Boundary Commission’s report.

The master copy of the DVD-ROMs has been deposited at my offices in Edinburgh. Reference copies are deposited with the Boundary Commission for Scotland. A copy of the DVD-ROMs is also available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Maps of the boundaries will be available online from the Boundary Commission for Scotland’s website or in hard copy by writing to the Commission. Hard copy A2-sized maps are also available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Finally, I intend laying the draft of an Order in Council for giving effect to the recommendations contained in the report before Parliament, as required under paragraph 3(9)(b) of schedule 1 to the Scotland Act 1998, before the summer recess.

Government's Legislative Programme

Danny Alexander Excerpts

Wednesday 26th May 2010 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Danny Alexander)]

The legislative programme for the first session was outlined on 25 May.

Some 16 of the 20 new Bills outlined in the Queen’s Speech in this session of Parliament contain provisions that apply to Scotland, either in full or in part.

The Government’s first priority is to reduce the budget deficit. This is a strong programme of legislation that focuses on restoring economic growth across the whole of the United Kingdom. People in Scotland will share the benefits from these measures which will support people into work and ensure confidence in the management of public finances and build a fair and family friendly economy.

Our legislation programme also contains measures to reform politics and restore trust, at Westminster and beyond. As part of these important constitutional reforms we will bring forward a Scotland Bill to implement recommendations from the final report of the Commission on Scottish Devolution, to build on and improve the current devolution settlement in Scotland.

This statement provides a summary of the legislation announced in the Queen’s Speech and its application to Scotland. It does not include draft Bills.

The Government are committed to the principles of the Sewel convention. We will work with the Scottish Government to secure consent for Bills that contain provisions requiring the consent of the Scottish Parliament.

The Bills listed in section 1 will apply to Scotland, either in full or in part. Section 2 details Bills that will not apply in Scotland.

1- Legislation applying to the United Kingdom, including Scotland either in full or in part.

Identity Documents Bill

Equitable Life Payments Scheme Bill

Office for Budget Responsibility Bill

National Insurance Contributions Bill

Parliamentary Reform Bill

Pensions and Savings Bill

Welfare Reform Bill

Freedom (Great Repeal) Bill

Financial Services Regulation Bill

Energy Security and Green Economy Bill

Public Bodies Reform Bill

Scotland Bill

European Communities (Amendment) Referendum Lock Bill

Postal Services Bill

Health Bill^*

Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill^*

2 - Legislation that will not apply in Scotland

Academies Bill

Local Government Bill

Education and Children’s Bill

Decentralisation and Localism Bill

There will be two additional Bills in the main programme that were not referred to in the speech (the Armed Forces Bill and the Terrorist Asset-Freezing Bill).

^* relate to devolved policy but likely to contain some reserved provisions.