Moore announces appointments to the Boundary Commission for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore MP today announced the appointment of Mrs Paula Sharp as a member of the Boundary Commission for Scotland.
The Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore MP today announced the appointment of Mrs Paula Sharp as a member of the Boundary Commission for Scotland. The appointment will commence on 1 January 2011 for a period of four years. Mrs Sharp, who has been a self- employed management consultant since 1994, will replace Dr Elspeth Graham who has been a member of the Commission since 1999.
Moore said: “I am delighted Paula Sharp has accepted the post of Commissioner. As a member of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, she brings with her invaluable knowledge, skills and expertise and will no doubt make a great contribution to the work of the Parliamentary Commission. I must also pay tribute to the long service and contribution of Dr Elspeth Graham who will leave her post at the end of the year.
“I am also pleased that Ken McDonald has agreed to serve for a further 4 year term from June 2011.”
Mr McDonald was first appointed to the Commission in June 2007.
The Boundary Commission for Scotland is an Advisory Non-departmental Public Body that is sponsored and wholly funded by the Scotland Office. It is an independent, non-political body constituted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986. The Commission is responsible for reviews of:
- constituencies and regions for the Scottish Parliament; and
- constituencies in Scotland for the Westminster Parliament.
Its duties and powers in relation to reviews of constituencies for the Westminster Parliament are expected to change following the passage of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, currently under consideration by Parliament. The Bill is expected to result in the reduction of the number of Westminster constituencies in Scotland from 59 to 52, and much greater equality of elector numbers between constituencies. As a result of the Bill, the Commission expects to complete a review of Westminster constituencies between early 2011 and 2013, which will result in substantial redrawing of Westminster constituency boundaries.
Mrs Sharp has been a member of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland (LGBCS) since November 2007. She was recently re-appointed for a further 3 years.