asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now publish and lay before Parliament the boundaries of the constituencies to be used for the direct elections to the European Parliament.

The Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for England and for Wales have submitted to me their reports with final recommendations for European Assembly constituencies in England and Wales. The statutory procedure requires me to lay these reports before Parliament, together with draft Orders in Council giving effect, with or without modifications, to the recommendations. Because of an industrial dispute at HMSO, it is not at present possible to publish the reports in the normal way. The reports and draft Orders in Council will however be laid before Parliament as soon as practicable.