HC Deb 24 July 1973 vol 860 cc433-4W
54. Mr. Edwin Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of concern in the urban districts of Conisbrough, Darfield, Mexborough, Swinton, Wath-upon-Dearne and Wombwell in connection with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, Report No. 3, which recommends that parish council status should not be granted to these authorities under the Local Government Act 1972; and if he will take necessary action for parish council status to be granted to each of those authorities.

Mr. Graham Page

My right hon. and learned Friend is aware that representations have been made for successor parishes in these urban districts, but he is not convinced that he should depart from the carefully considered recommendations of the Boundary Commission.

Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present population of those existing urban districts in South Yorkshire and in West Yorkshire which will have successor parish councils.

Mr. Graham Page

The information, derived from the 1971 Census, is as follows:

South Yorkshire
Penistone 8,187
Stocksbridge 13,404
Tickhill 3,262
West Yorkshire
Denholme 2,575
Hebden Royd 8,674
Hemsworth 14,851
Otley 13,265
Ripponden 4,799
Silsden 5,583

Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of existing urban districts in the proposed West Yorkshire and in the South Yorkshire metropolitan counties.

Mr. Graham Page

There are 20 existing urban districts in the new metropolitan county of South Yorkshire and 29 in West Yorkshire.

Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the number of applications for successor parish status and the number which were successful in both the West Riding of Yorkshire and the rest of England.

Mr. Graham Page

I am informed by the Local Government Boundary Commission that proposals for successor parishes were made in respect of 402 areas. The commission recommended that successor parish status should be granted in 269 cases and the commission's recommendations were accepted by my right hon. and learned Friend. The figures for the West Riding of Yorkshire were 47 and 13 respectively.

Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of urban districts which lie in the areas of both metropolitan county and non-metropolitan county areas, and the number which will have successor parish status.

Mr. Graham Page

There are 334 urban districts wholly within the new non-metropolitan counties and 111 wholly within the new metropolitan counties. Four urban districts are divided between metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties. Of the proposed successor parishes in the non-metropolitan counties, 187 comprise existing urban districts or parts of urban districts; in the metropolitan counties the corresponding figure is 13.