§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will next instigate a review of electoral wards by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales; and if he will make a statement. [20373]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe reviews of local government electoral arrangements are instigated not by my right hon. Friend, but by the relevant provisions of the Local Government Act 1972. Section 64(1) of that Act, as substituted by section 6 of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, requires the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales to undertake reviews of the electorial arrangements in each of the new unitary authorities "as soon as practicable" after the first elections to be held next month.