§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many urban parish councils he has approved within the boundaries of unitary councils; if he will list the council areas concerned; and if he will make a statement on the statutory powers given to the urban parish councils. [76619]
§ Ms ArmstrongUnder the Local Government and Rating Act 1997, the Secretary of State has approved 8 new parishes within unitary authority areas: Allerton Bywater, and Horsforth in Leeds; Southsea in Portsmouth; Beverley, and Cottingham in the East Riding of Yorkshire; Headland in Hartlepool; East Cowes on the Isle of Wight; and Mossley in Tameside. Using the Department's standard statistical definition of urban areas and population from the 1991 census, with the exception of Allerton Bywater, all the new parishes can be defined as urban. These parishes have the same statutory powers as any other parish council.