§ Mr. Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, further to his previous answers to the hon. Member for Lewes of 5 and 16 February and since notices of district elections have to be given on 29 March, he will now announce his revised plans for the introduction of those new ward boundaries which have yet to be approved, or, alternatively, reassure the district councils concerned that the cost of extra elections in 1980, which nobody wants and over which they have had no influence, will not have to be borne directly by them.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesAfter careful consideration of the views expressed by the Association of District Councils, I have decided to make no change in the arrangements described in the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member on 5 February. The Government have no plans to change the way local elections are financed. [Vol. 962, c.3.]