§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statutory impediment there is to designating a new unitary authority as a county council where it is conterminous with a county area, in terms of the allocation of district functions to that authority.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesUnder section 14(5)(a) of the Local Government Act 1992, I may abolish a local authority whose functions would all vest in another as a result of any structural change or whose area would be abolished or otherwise substantially affected by any recommended boundary change. It follows that where there is an existing district council for an area whose boundaries are not recommended to be changed, and it is proposed to establish unitary local government in that area, I cannot abolish the district council and accordingly I cannot establish a unitary county council for the area.