HC Deb 17 February 1995 vol 254 cc843-4W
Mr. Frank Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the functions for which further orders will be required to give full effect to structural change in Cleveland, together with when these orders will be laid before the House.

Mr. Curry

No further orders are required to give full effect to structural change in Cleveland. Depending on our decision on the county area of Cleveland, there may be further provision to redefine the county area and to address ceremonial functions, such as the Lord Lieutenancy. My right hon. Friend and colleagues in other Government Departments may wish to make regulations or issue guidance in due course in relation to the provision of services where there is to be unitary local government.

Mr. Frank Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which bodies have commented on the draft Avon, Humberside and North Yorkshire (Structural Change) Orders and the Selby District (Boundary Change) Order; and if he will place copies of those comments in the Library.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

My answer to the hon. Member for Kingswood (Mr. Berry) on 3 February 1995,Official Report, column 911, listed the bodies consulted on the draft orders. We have also received comments from other bodies such as parish councils as well as individuals. We will make available copies of comments from official bodies on request unless we are asked not to do so.

Mr. Berry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the provision for a transferor authority affected by structural change under the Local Government Act 1992 to seek information from a transferee; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

We intend that the individual orders made under section 17 of the Local Government Act 1992 will provide for transferor and transferee authorities alike to co-operate with one another so as to facilitate the implementation of structural change.

Ms Corston

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether article 20 of the draft Avon Structural Change (Order) grants powers to district councils transferring functions to South Gloucestershire which it does not grant to the county council also transferring powers to the new authority.

Mr. Curry

No.

Ms Corston

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he announced his decision to create new counties in Avon and Humberside.

Mr. Curry

Our decision to abolish the counties of Avon and Humberside was announced on 25 October 1994. In accordance with the Local Government Act 1972, when we abolish the counties of Avon and Humberside, we must at the same time provide for their areas to be included in other counties.

Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what role he envisages for the Local Government Commission once the current set of reviews is completed.

Mr. Curry

The Local Government Commission is responsible, under the Local Government Act 1992, for undertaking periodic electoral reviews of local government areas in England, as well as for conducting structural and boundary reviews at the direction of the Secretary of State. I expect that, once the current round of structural reviews is complete, its main business will be with the periodic electoral reviews.