5 Conclusion
51. We have expressed throughout this short report
a number of concerns about the consequences for Wales, intended
and unintended, foreseen and unknown, of the major constitutional
issues which are being put before the nation and Parliament for
decision in this Bill. We do not point to easy or obvious solutions
to any of them. However, on one point we have reached a firm conclusion.
No persuasive argument has been presented to justify the haste
with which this legislation is being pursued. There is no need
for the legislation paving the way to the AV referendum to be
linked to that fixing the size and number of parliamentary constituencies.
Indeed, there are strong grounds for separating consideration
of the two issues in time, both for Parliament and for the electorate.
52. There is no need to rush into reorganising the
electoral system without careful and measured consideration of
the differential effects on the different parts of the UK. No
coherent justification has been made for pressing ahead with the
redrawing of constituency boundaries on the basis of out-of-date
information of at least questionable accuracy. Most of all, a
decision to cut the representation in Parliament of one of the
nations of the UK, Wales, by a quarter at a stroke should be one
that can be shown to have been subject to the most careful and
measured consideration, and should be taken in the light of proper
examination of alternative approaches, including a slower pace
of change.
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