§ Mr. Andersonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to announce the reactions to his consultation paper on neighbourhood councils in England.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe consultation paper has aroused a great deal of interest amongst local authorities and existing community groups; a substantial number of very thoughtful and diverse reactions are still being received, and further ones are still to come. Some of the reactions have already been published in the Press, but I would expect to issue some form of summary or commentary in due course, probably when the Government's decisions are announced. Decisions cannot be taken until at least the great bulk of the reactions have been received and evaluated, and it is too early to put a date on that.