§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress in the award of city status. [108455]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienHer Majesty the Queen has said that she intends to mark the Millennium by a grant of city status. A competition was announced in May 1999 with a closing date of 1 September. Thirty-nine applications have been received from towns in the United Kingdom; each application is being considered on its individual merits. No date has yet been set for the announcement of the result.