HC Deb 11 January 1996 vol 269 cc287-8W
Mr. Chris Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the last date on which orders must be placed for the establishment of new unitary authorities so that elections can take place on 2 May. [8625]

Sir Paul Beresford

There is no strict requirement to lay a structural change order by a particular date. However, where there is to be reorganisation, it is our

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give for each year of the operation of the docklands light railway,(a) the number of train miles in service, (b) the number of passenger miles travelled, (c) the cost (i) per train mile and (ii) per passenger mile of all costs other than capital for construction, (d) the subsidy per passenger mile and (e) the percentage of non-capital costs received from passengers and London pooled income. [8250]

Sir Paul Beresford

The following table sets out the relevant statistics on the docklands light railway from 1 April 1992, when the Secretary of State for the Environment took on responsibility for the railway:

policy that there should be full elections to the future unitary authority the year before the transfer of responsibilities. As a result, given the requirements governing the publication of the notice of election in the Local Elections (Principal Areas) Rules 1986 along the administrative needs of the returning officer, we consider that an order should be made not less than two months before the date of the election to which it relates.