§ Lord Gainfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will issue revised guidelines to the Local Government Commission.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Baroness Denton of Wakefield)We have today issued revised policy guidance to the commission, incorporating the changes outlined in the announcement made on 30 September by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, and taking account of the comments we received on our draft proposals. We are re-emphasising the benefits of unitary authorities and asking the commission to give more weight to proposals emerging as a result of local consensus. A copy of the document has been placed in the Library of the House and additional copies are available in the Vote Office.
We hope that, by removing any doubt about our views on a number of issues, the revised guidance will assist the commission in its important task of recommending arrangements which best combine a reflection of the identities and interests of local people with the need to secure convenient and effective local government.
119WAWe are still discussing with the Local Government Commission the details of the accelerated review programme.