Process for determining electoral boundaries in Scotland: consultation

Appendix – consultation questions

1. Do you think the process for approving changes to electoral boundaries (following reviews by Boundaries Scotland) should be changed so that these are automatically introduced, or should changes to electoral boundaries continue to be subject to a vote by Members of the Scottish Parliament before being introduced? Please add any comments you would like to make in support of your answer.

2. Do you think Parliamentarians should have a formal opportunity to lodge objections on the grounds of procedure when approving changes to boundaries:

• Yes
• No

3. If you answered ‘Yes’ to question 2, how should this objection be made?

• Objections to boundary changes from MSPs should need to be submitted during the public consultation period with no further opportunity to table objections in Parliament, similar to the process for Westminster constituencies.
• Objections should be considered if a set number of MSPs table objections to a part of the report on boundary changes submitted to Parliament, similar to the process in Canada.
• Other, please state.
• Don’t know.

4. Do you have any further comments on the approval and parliamentary process, including any other elements of the models used in other countries that you would like to see introduced in Scotland?

5. How long do you think the consultation period(s) for electoral boundaries reviews in Scotland should be? Please provide a reason for your answer.

6. Do you think there should be additional events or processes as part of the consultation process in Scotland? Please provide a reason for your answer.

7. Do you have any further comments on the consultation process for boundary changes, including any other elements of the models used in other countries that you would like to see introduced in Scotland?

8. Different countries have different rules around who is on their Boundary Commission. Do you think there should be any changes to the rules on who should be among the members of Boundaries Scotland or how they are appointed? Please provide a reason for your answer.

9. Do you have any further comments on boundary commission structure or resources, including any other elements of the models used in other countries that you would like to see introduced in Scotland?

10. Do you have any further comments, which have not been captured in your previous responses, on the process by which electoral boundary changes are approved or implemented in Scotland?

11. Do you think any other changes to the rules or methodology around setting electoral boundaries should be made, as a result of any possible change to the approval process in Scotland? Please provide a reason for your answer.