House of Lords Reform and the size of the House of Commons

The debate pack summarises developments in House of Lords Reform since the 2015 election. The House of Commons Library has a separate briefing paper which outlines House of Lords Reform – developments in the 2010 Parliament

Constituency boundaries are kept under regular review to ensure Members of Parliament represent roughly the same number of constituents at Westminster. The reviews are carried out by the Boundary Commissions for England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. These are independent bodies that propose constituencies that must meet the Rules for Redistribution set out in statute. These Rules were changed in 2013 to include the requirement that the House of Commons has 600 seats; and that all these constituencies have electorates within 5% of the electoral quota (with the exception of four island seats, including two in Scotland - Na h-Eileanan an Iar and Orkney and Shetland).

The four commissions commenced the current review, called the 2018 Review, in February 2016. Initial proposals for England, Wales and Northern Ireland were published in September 2016 and the initial proposals for Scotland are to be released on Thursday 20 October 2016. The four Commissions have to complete their review and deliver their final recommendations to the Government by 1 October 2018 and if approved are due to be implemented at the 2020 General Election.

The House of Commons Library prepares a briefing in hard copy and/or online for most non-legislative debates in the Chamber and Westminster Hall other than half-hour debates. Debate Packs are produced quickly after the announcement of parliamentary business. They are intended to provide a summary or overview of the issue being debated and identify relevant briefings and useful documents, including press and parliamentary material. More detailed briefing can be prepared for Members on request to the Library.