§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to delay the deadline for local authorities to submit proposals for new political arrangements under Part II of the Local Government Act 2000, following the postponement of annual council meetings. [157609]
§ Ms ArmstrongSubject to the enactment of the Elections Bill, we intend to issue revised statutory guidance under the Local Government Act 2000 about the submission of proposals. We intend any such revised guidance to provide that those councils which are holding local elections on 7 June 2001, or where due to local circumstances the usual conduct of business has been disrupted, should submit proposals by 14 September 2001 instead of by the current guideline date of end of June 2001.