HC Deb 20 December 2000 vol 360 cc174-5W
Mr. Ennis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the procedures that need to be followed in respect of the abolition of town and parish councils. [142817]

Ms Beverley Hughes

Under the Local Government and Rating Act 1997, a district council may carry out a review of the parish arrangements in either a part or the whole of its area, with a view to making to the Secretary of State recommendations for change, including for the abolition of parish or town councils. It is open to the Secretary of State to accept, reject, or to accept with modifications any such recommendation.

Details of the procedures involved are set out in Environment Circular 11/97, copies of which are kept in the Library of the House.