§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to direct the Local Government Commission to review local government arrangements in Southport. [7930]
§ Mr. CurryI have today issued a direction to the Local Government Commission for England for it to carry out a review of local government arrangements in the metropolitan borough of Sefton. The commission should submit its final report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by 25 November 1997. The direction requires the commission to have regard to policy and procedure guidance on the conduct of the review. My Department is also issuing, jointly with the commission, a statement setting out local government arrangements which we consider that the commission could recommend under the law, given the geographical scope of the direction.
We have previously said that, following the end of the structure reviews in England, we would need to be convinced that there was a strong and widespread demand before directing more reviews. It is clear that there is that pressure in Sefton, especially in Southport.
I am depositing copies of the direction, the guidance and the joint statement in the Library.