§ Mr. Andrew Stewartasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to change the date of the ordinary local elections in 1986.
§ Mr. BrittanOrdinary local elections are held on the first Thursday in May: in 1986 this is Thursday 1 May. The Board of Deputies of British Jews has made representations that the elections should be postponed a week because 1 May 1986 falls during Passover. Following consultations with the local authority associations, we have decided to include in the forthcoming Representation of the People Bill a provision moving the ordinary day of election from 1 to 8 May 1986. The local authorities affected are London borough councils, district councils in England and Wales which are elected by thirds, some parish and community councils in those districts and regional and islands area councils in Scotland.