§ David WrightTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the competitions for civic honours to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee will be launched; and if she will make a statement. [6533]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe competitions for grants of city status to one town in each of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and for a Lord Mayoralty, will be launched next Wednesday, 25 July, by means of press notices. Letters will be posted on 24 July to the towns and cities known to be interested in applying for these honours. Both the letters and the press notices will provide some guidance on the main factors that will be788W taken into account in identifying the successful towns and city. The honours will, however, continue to be rare marks of distinction conferred, on Ministerial advice, under the Royal Prerogative, rather than rights to be earned by the meeting of specific criteria.
Applications submitted for the grant of city status to mark the Millennium will be reconsidered if the local authorities so wish, with or without additional material. The closing date for the submission of applications and any fresh material will be 12 October 2001. The Government hope to announce the results of the competitions in the early months of 2002.