§ Mr. Percivalasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received any representations concerning the present local government status of Southport, and, in particular, the possibility of removing Southport from the metropolitan borough of Sefton to the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire; when the relevant local government boundaries are likely to be reviewed; and whether he will direct the English Boundary Commission to review them earlier or have discussions with the Boundary Commission designed to bring about an earlier review.
§ Mr. John SilkinI have not received any representations regarding either the present local government status of Southport or its transfer from Sefton to Lancashire.
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is required by the Local Government Act 1972 to review the areas of counties and metropolitan districts between 1984 and 1989, and Southport would come up for review during that period. I would be prepared neither to direct the commission to carry out such a review before 1984 nor to have discussions with it designed to bring about such a review before 1984.
The removal of Southport from the present metropolitan district would be a major area change which should be reserved for the major reviews between 1984 and 1989. So large a change would disturb the pattern of authorities. To 631W consider it before 1984 would be premature in view of the need to have sufficient experience of the operation of the new authorities before making radical alterations.