§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to bring forward proposals for annual elections for local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [17592]
§ Mr. RaynsfordA wide ranging consultation exercise on the agenda for modernising local democracy will begin in the coming few weeks. This will include options for the introduction of annual elections. The consultation process will feed into a comprehensive White Paper on Local Government in the late Spring or early Summer 1998.