§ Sir Terence HigginsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that any public consultation document issued to ascertain views on the draft recommendation of the Local Government308W Commission affecting Worthing will include a status quo option, as well as the two alternatives put forward which are identical as far as the Worthing constituency is concerned.
§ Mr. CurryThe period of public consultation on the Local Government Commission's draft recommendations for the future local government in east and west Sussex began on 12 July 1994 and will end on 26 September 1994. The recommendations themselves and the method of consultation on them are matters for the commission, not for the Government.
Before submitting its final recommendations to the Secretary of State the commission must take into consideration any representations made to it during the consultation period. The commission's final recommendations may differ from the preliminary recommendations, as a result of its consultations. Once the final report of the commission has been submitted there is a minimum period of six weeks during which representations can be made to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State can accept, modify or reject the commission's recommendations, or can direct the commission to conduct a further review. Any order implementing structural change is subject to affirmative resolution in both Houses.
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