§ Mr. John MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the total numbers of councillors originally proposed by his Office for the whole of Wales following local government reorganisation; to what number this was subsequently increased and for what reasons; and what number he now proposes for the whole of Wales and for what reasons. [20372]
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§ Mr. Gwilym JonesWelsh Office officials had informal consultations with the local authority associations in summer 1993 on the basis of proposals for between 1,085 and 1,137 members to be elected at the first elections to the new authorities.
My right hon. Friend decided to increase this number to 1,273, on the basis of a methodology devised by the Council of Welsh Districts which sought to preserve as much as possible of the existing district ward structure and levels of representation to provide an element of continuity for electors during the first years of the new authorities.
My right hon. Friend has proposed no total figure for Wales in subsequent elections; it will be for the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales to make proposals for optimum council sizes with regard to the directions which my right hon. Friend will issue to it in due course.