PARLIAMENTARY MEMBERSHIP BILL

Order for Second Reading read. 3.01 p.m.

The Minister for Law and Science and Technology (Mr E.W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

At the last sitting of this House on 25th June, 1980, a White Paper on the Report of the Electoral Boundaries Delineation Committee was presented to Parliament. I had on that occasion made a statement on the acceptance by the Government of the Com- mittee's recommendations, which involved the creation of nine new constituencies and the elimination of three existing ones, resulting in a net increase of six constituencies and bringing the total number of constituencies to 75.

Under section 22 of the Parliamentary Elections Act (Chapter 50), each constituency is to return one Member to serve in Parliament. Article 39(1) of the Constitution provides that Parliament consists of such number of elected members as the Legislature may by law provide. In 1976, the Legislature had by law increased the number of Parliamentary seats from 65 to 69. The Bill before this House now seeks to increase the number of Members of Parliament to be elected at the next general elections to 75.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr E W Barker].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.