§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to establish an independent review of local government electoral arrangements in England. [15312]
§ Dr. WhiteheadOn 14 November we laid before the House a draft of an Order, under section 18 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, that,42W subject to parliamentary approval, will transfer the functions of the Local Government Commission for England to the independent Electoral Commission from 1 April 2002. From that date the Electoral Commission will be entirely responsible for the revision and updating of electoral arrangements in local government.