HC Deb 30 November 1990 vol 181 cc499-500W
Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters of complaint his Department has received concerning the abolition of the county of Middlesex.

Mr. Key

Since the beginning of 1987 a total of 77 letters about this matter, 49 of them stereotyped, have been received by the Department.

Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report of the local authority boundary commission on Humberside.

Mr. Key

I understand that the commission has just issued its draft proposal on Humberside. It proposes that the districts of Cleethorpes, Glanford, Great Grimsby, and Scunthorpe, should be returned to Lincolnshire. The commission also points out that it would be within the power of the council of the county of Humberside to change the name to East Yorkshire.

The commission has invited public comment on its draft proposal by 31 January 1991. It will reassess the draft proposal in the light of all the representations received, before deciding whether to then make a report to my right hon. Friend, or to seek further views before so doing.

Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in any examination of local government structure, he will make it his policy to consider the importance of historical names and boundaries in relation to the vigour and stability of local democracy.

Mr. Key

My right hon. Friend is fully aware of the importance of historical names and boundaries. He would certainly bear them in mind were he to undertake an examination of local government structure.

Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters his Department has received complaining at the setting up and continued existence of the counties of Avon and Humberside.

Mr. Key

Following the Local Government Boundary Commission for England's report of 30 November 1988 on its review of the county of Avon, the Department received 784 letters of complaint about the continuing existence of the county.

As was recorded in the Department's letter of 17 March 1989, informing the Local Government Boundary Commission for England of the then Secretary of State's direction to it to carry out a further review of the county of Humberside, nearly 7,000 representations arguing against the continuance of the county had been received in the Department. Since that date such letters are redirected to the commission in connection with its current review.