asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he is contemplating in the rules and procedures governing the reviews of parliamentary constituencies in England; and if he will make a statement.

None, Sir.

As there are frequent population changes in many English parliamentary constituencies, does the hon. Gentleman agree that in the interests of fairness there should be more frequent reviews of parliamentary boundaries? Why cannot we have a system in England under which there are a fair and reasonable number of electors—about 60,000 in each constituency—rather than having 80,000 to 90,000 in many constituencies and under 40,000 in others?

In 1958 the House of Commons decided to change the period of review and make it every 10 to 15 years because the previous method of review every three to seven years was thought to be too frequent. I sometimes wish that we would make up our minds and stick to that decision.

Will my hon. Friend think about that again? Will he take on board the argument advanced by the hon. Member for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Madel), that there is a gross and inherent unfairness in the great variations between the sizes of electorate and as to the times at which sensible changes may be made?

That is why a general review is now taking place. I was asked to change the rules in the middle of the general review and to expedite it in certain instances. That I am not prepared to do.