§ Mr. EnnisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many town and parish councils were abolished in each year between 1990 and 1997. [158799]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe Local Government Act 1972 contains no provision for the abolition of parish councils. However, this legislation provides for the dissolution of parish councils where the population of a parish falls below 150. Dissolution in such circumstances is carried out by order of the district council. We have no record of any dissolution orders.
The Local Government Act 1992 made provision for the abolition of parishes by the Secretary of State following a recommendation by the Local Government Commission. No parishes were abolished as a consequence of the structural review of local Government during 1992–97.
§ Mr. EnnisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many town and parish councils have been created by his Department in each of the last 10 years. [158798]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe following table shows the number of new parishes that have been created in each of the last 10 years:
Year Number of parishes created 1991–92 10 1992–93 6 1993–94 10 1994–95 4 1995–96 18 1996–97 9 1997–98 1 1998–99 20 1999–2000 42 2000–01 16