§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultation took place between his Department's officials, the Cannock Chase district council and other appropriate local bodies before the alteration of the Rugeley travel-to-work areas was announced; what criteria were adopted for making this decision; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Alan ClarkCannock Chase district council and all other local authorities in the area were invited to comment on draft proposals for new travel-to-work areas. Where appropriate, comments made by local authorities were taken into account in reaching the final definition of the new areas. Redefining the travel-to-work areas is a statistical exercise where the main criteria were that a high proportion of the employed population living in a travel-to-work area should also work there and a high proportion of those working in the area should also live there.