§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when regulations will be laid before the House to remove the inconsistencies in legislation as a result of the provisions of Part II of the Local Government Act 2000; and if he will set up an inquiry to investigate the reasons for the delay in discovering the problem and alerting local authorities to the situation. [159846]
§ Ms Beverley HughesOur intention is to lay all the necessary orders for councils to operate from June 2001 leader and cabinet constitutions. The first of these orders was laid before Parliament on 27 April 2001. As highlighted in the guidance issued on 26 October 2000 these orders have been included in our implementation plans from the outset. With the extended parliamentary consideration of some of the other secondary legislation made under Part II of the Local Government Act 2000 and with the postponement of the local elections it was not possible to make these orders as soon as we had originally planned and local authorities were informed of this as soon as the Elections Act 2001 received Royal Assent. No inquiry is necessary.