HC Deb 30 June 2003 vol 408 cc18-9
24. Mr. Gordon Prentice (Pendle)

What the estimated cost is of the forthcoming review of local government boundaries in the north-west. [122056]

Mr. Peter Viggers (Gosport)

The reviews will be undertaken by the boundary committee for England, which is a statutory committee of the commission. The committee has not estimated the cost of carrying out a review in the north-west alone. However, for budgetary purposes, it was estimated that costs of around £6.2 million would be incurred by conducting local government reviews of three regions.

Mr. Prentice

I think that £6.2 million is an underestimate of the true costs and that we need local government reorganisation like we need a hole in the head. Will the electoral committee examine the opportunity costs of the reorganisation of England into three regional assembly areas, bearing in mind that councillors and senior officers will be poring over local government maps—not concentrating on service delivery but examining the reconfiguration of local government maps? That is a complete waste of time.

Mr. Viggers

The legislative framework for the matter is quite sophisticated. The boundary committee received a direction from the Deputy Prime Minister and will report to him. Therefore, policy on the issue is not a matter for the Speaker's Committee or the Electoral Commission, and questions should be addressed to the Deputy Prime Minister.