Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he expects the Boundary Commissions to begin their work on the next general review of Parliamentary constituencies; whether he expects this review to be conducted in accordance with Part 2 of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011; and if he will make a statement.

The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies (PVSC) Act 2011 currently provides for the number of constituencies to be reduced from 650 to 600 and the Government remains committed to equalising the size of constituencies in order to make votes of more equal value, regardless of where in the country voters live.

The Boundary Commissions are currently due to commence work on their next reviews of Parliamentary constituencies in spring 2016 in order to submit final reports by 1 October 2018.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is responsible for the regulation and payment of expenses, including office running costs, to Members of the House of Commons.