§ Mr. TimmsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Government propose to reflect local government reorganisation in the European regional classification known as NUTS. [6788]
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§ Mrs. LiddellThe Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics (NUTS) is the European Commission's classification of sub-national areas for statistical purposes, and is managed by Eurostat, the Commission's statistical office. The Government Statistical Service has drafted a new NUTS structure for the UK which takes account of Government Office regions and local government reorganisation. The draft structure was the subject of wide consultation last summer, and the results of that consultation are incorporated in the final proposals. Dr. Holt, the Director of the Office for National Statistics, has submitted the proposals to Eurostat for their consideration. Copies of the proposals, and a report on the consultation of last year, are being placed in the Libraries of the House today.