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Boundary Delimitation

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies
Question:Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: The UK is currently divided into 650 parliamentary constituencies, each of which is represented by one MP in the House of Commons. There are currently 543 constituencies in England, 57 in Scotland, 32 in Wales and 18 in Northern Ireland. The Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020 amended the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 and changed the number of seats from 600 to 650.
Source: Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, Schedule 2: Section 1, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/56/schedule/2 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/25/data.pdf Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020, Section 5, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/25/section/5/enacted
Verified: 2025/06/12
BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries
Question:On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s): a. "Equality" of population
b. Respecting natural barriers
d. Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries
e. Geographic size of district
f. Communities of interest/cultural concerns
g. Other
Comments: A Boundary Commission may take into account, if and to such extent as they think fit: (a)special geographical considerations, including in particular the size, shape and accessibility of a constituency; (b)local government boundaries which exist, or are prospective, on the review date; (c)boundaries of existing constituencies; (d)any local ties that would be broken by changes in constituencies; (e)the inconveniences attendant on such changes.
Source: Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, Schedule 2: Section 5(1), https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/56/schedule/2#commentary-key-8a8f16ee5d11430ea3a1714ea00d466a
Verified: 2025/06/12
BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries
Question:The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s): a. Legislature (1st chamber)
b. Legislature (2nd chamber)
d. Boundary Commission
Comments: Recommendations and proposals are suggested by Boundary Commission reports, and are then submitted, by the Secretary of State, for approval by Parliament (i.e. the House of Commons and the House of Lords).
Source: Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (c.56), Art. 3, 4, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/56/contents
Verified: 2025/06/12
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