§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he proposes to synchronise the elections of Essex county council with those of the vesting day of the two new continuing unitary authorities of Southend and Essex. [29858]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordIt is our policy to require fresh elections for each continuing unitary authority in the year before reorganisation, to ensure that planning and implementation of unitary functions is done on the basis of a fresh mandate. For reorganisations, including Southend and Thurrock, being planned for 1998, this will entail elections in May 1997, which will take place on the same day as the county council elections for the rest of Essex.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers he has to extend the life of the existing Essex county council to 1 April 1998. [29856]
46W
Building research establishment 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Grade Scientists Engineers Scientists Engineers Scientists Engineers Scientists Engineers Scientists Engineers Scientists Engineers Grade 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 Grade 4 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 Grade 5 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 4 1 4 0 Grade 20 3 21 2 20 2 21 3 21 3 19 5 Grade 7 71 10 74 12 75 11 75 12 78 12 76 11 SEO and equivalent 89 16 99 17 93 19 91 20 89 22 103 22 HEO and equivalent 89 13 92 15 91 17 78 17 73 16 71 17 EO and equivalent 46 15 49 13 48 11 52 14 43 12 30 9 AO and equivalent 21 0 18 0 13 0 12 0 10 0 7 0 AA and equivalent 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
§ Sir Paul BeresfordMy right hon. Friend has no such general powers.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if county councillors can be elected from(a) Southend and (b) Thurrock, to Essex county council at the election scheduled for May 1997. [29857]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordMy Department has recently consulted on a draft order under the Local Government Act 1992 which would convert the existing Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock borough councils into unitary authorities. The order would, among other things, suspend Essex county council elections for county divisions in the areas of Thurrock and Southend which would otherwise take place in May 1997. Instead, the terms of office of the existing councillors would be extended until 1 April 1998, when the two districts would become unitary. We are currently considering representations on the draft order.