§ Mr. Matthew BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on which counties the Local Government Commission will consider; in what order and on what time scale.
§ Mr. Robin SquireI refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Robinson) on 3 June,Official Report, columns 545–46.
§ Mr. Matthew BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the terms of reference of the Local Government Commission; and what guidance he has given as to the optimum size of a new unitary authority.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe terms of reference of the Local Government Commission are set out in section 13(5) of the Local Government Act 1992.
The size of authorities is covered in paragraph 10 of our revised policy guidance which was placed in the Library on 3 June. My right hon. and learned Friend intends to direct the commission to have regard to this guidance shortly.
§ Mr. Matthew BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Local Government Commission was established; and if he will list the names, qualifications and previous experience of its members.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe Local Government Commission was formally established on 1 July. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Local Government and Inner Cities, announced the names of the members we have appointed to the commission on 15 June,Official Report, column 397, and 3 July, Official Report, column 719. Further details about these members are available from my Department's press notice, a copy of which I have placed in the Library.
§ Mr. PatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to appoint an equal number of women and men members to the Local Government Commission.
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Executive NDPB External Auditor British Board of Agrément BDO Binder Hamlyn Commission for the New Towns Ernst and Young Housing action trusts: North Hull Kidsons Impey Waltham Forest Pannell, Kerr Forster Housing Corporation Coopers and Lybrand Letchworth Garden City Corporation Ernst and Young Local Government Commission not yet appointed London Pensions Fund Authority District Audit Service of the Audit Commission London residuary body District Audit Service of the Audit Commission
§ Mr. Robin SquireI refer the hon. Member to the answers my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Local Government and Inner Cities gave to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike), on 15 June,Official Report, column 397, and to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field), on 3 July, Official Report, column 719.