Process for determining electoral boundaries in Scotland: consultation
We are consulting on the approval process used when electoral boundary proposals are made. Its responses will contribute to the work of the independent Review into the Process for Determining Electoral Boundaries in Scotland, chaired by Andrew Kerr OBE.
Open
25 days to respond
Respond online
Boundary commission structure and resources
Boundaries Scotland is the commission which sets boundaries for Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions, and local government ward boundaries and councillor numbers. Members of Boundaries Scotland are politically independent persons appointed by Scottish Ministers in a process overseen by the Ethical Standards Commissioner. This is a similar system to that of Wales, where all members of their boundary commission are appointed by Welsh Ministers.
Internationally, there are a range of approaches for who sits on boundary commissions.
In the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, a current or retired Judge sits on or Chairs the boundary commission for determining the electoral boundaries in national elections. The Boundary Commission for Scotland (who conduct Westminster constituency reviews in Scotland) has a judge of the Court of Session as its Deputy Chair. Boundaries Scotland and local UK commissions are not chaired by judges.
It is common in other countries to have senior public servants in specific roles to sit on boundary commissions, or to have some formal role where they contribute their expertise. Some examples of this kind of involvement includes:
- For Westminster constituency reviews in Scotland, the Director General of Ordinance Survey (an expert in mapping) and from National Records of Scotland, the Registrar General are invited to sit as assessors to the Boundary Commission of Scotland. They are not formal members of the Commission and do not comment on boundary proposals.
- In Australia, the Surveyor-General, the Auditor-General, and members of the Electoral Commission.
- In New Zealand, the Surveyor-General, the Deputy Government Statistician, the Chief Electoral Officer, and the Local Government Commission Chair.
Other people who contribute to boundary reviews in other countries include:
- For federal (Canada-wide) reviews in Canada, two members of the public from areas being reviewed who are nominated by the Speaker of the House of Commons.
- In New Zealand, two political representatives – one from the governing party and one from the main opposition party.
Boundary commissions in the UK are composed of Commissioners, but also have a secretariat of civil servants which assists them in conducting reviews. Boundaries Scotland have a small secretariat for this purpose, and the same people form the secretariat for the Boundary Commission for Scotland (who conduct Westminster constituency reviews in Scotland). In Wales there is a similar Secretariat structure who serve two Commissions. Boundaries Scotland is an Advisory Non-departmental Public Body who have a budget provided by the Scottish Government. In England, by contrast, the secretariats for the Boundary Commission for England and for the local boundary commission are different.
In some other countries, boundary commissions are a part of the Electoral Commission (or equivalent), or are combined with other public bodies which have responsibility for electoral administration. In Scotland, Boundaries Scotland, the Electoral Management Board for Scotland and the Electoral Commission (which is a UK-wide body) are separate bodies. In Wales, the newly formed Electoral Management Board is part of the same public body as the devolved boundary commission (called the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru).
Contact
Email: ElectionsTeam@gov.scot