§ Ms MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 11 May,Official Report, column 170, what are the particular circumstances in Cleveland which permit a change in the structure of local government to precede local elections.
§ Mr. CurryIn announcing his decisions on the future structure of local government in Cleveland on 18 January my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the532W Environment made clear his intention to consult the majority and minority groups on each of the four district councils and the county council about whether or not elections should be held in May 1994 with the intention of establishing the four new unitary authorities in April 1995. However, because of the judicial review case brought by Cleveland county council, it proved impossible for us to lay an order providing, inter alia, for elections to be held in May this year.
Therefore we again sought the views of the majority and minority groups on the relevant local authorities and, in the light of their comments, we decided that the most practicable arrangement would be for the new unitary authorities to be established in April 1995 followed by elections in May 1995.