Metropolitan Districts (Hansard, 18 October 1993)

§ Dr. Lynne Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he plans to issue to the review of the electoral boundaries in metropolitan districts; and whether he will consult local authorities and the local authority associations before finalising.

§ Mr. Baldry
My right hon. Friend has not yet reached a view on whether to issue separate guidance to the Local Government Commission on the conduct of either boundary and electoral reviews of metropolitan areas, or the commission's statutory periodic electoral reviews of all areas. My right hon. Friend will consult on any proposed guidance before issuing it to the commission.

§ Dr. Lynne Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that the Local Government Commission prepares and consults local authorities and their associations on a statement of the principles it will use in carrying out the review of electoral boundaries in metropolitan districts prior to the review being undertaken.

§ Mr. Baldry
In undertaking reviews, the Local Government Commission must have regard to the provisions of the Local Government Act 1992 and to any guidance which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has issued to it. Otherwise, the conduct of reviews is a matter for the commission itself. The Secretary of State has as yet issued no guidance on electoral reviews in metropolitan areas.

§ Dr. Lynne Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the terms of reference of the review of electoral boundaries in metropolitan districts extend to changes requiring legislation.

§ Mr. Baldry
The Local Government Act 1992 makes provision for my right hon. Friend to direct the commission to undertake reviews of the structure, boundaries and electoral arrangements of local government in areas of England. The commission also has a statutory duty to undertake periodic reviews of local government electoral arrangements in all areas.
Any changes recommended by the commission, whether as a consequence of a review undertaken at the direction of my right hon. Friend or of the commission's statutory responsibilities, can be implemented only by means of an order made by statutory instrument.