HC Deb 15 October 2001 vol 372 cc933-4W
Bob Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he expects the announcement will be made on which town has been granted city status to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen's accession to the throne; [6320]

  1. (2) if applications by those towns which applied unsuccessfully for city status to commemorate the Third Millennium will be considered as applications for city status to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen's accession to the throne; [6321]
  2. (3) what plans he has to publish criteria for towns wishing to apply for city status to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen's accession to the throne; and if he will make a statement; [6322]
  3. (4) when he will invite applications for city status to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen's accession to the throne. [6323]

Ms Rosie Winterton

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Telford (David Wright) on 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 787W.

Bob Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will sit on the committee which will consider applications by towns which wish to be granted city status to commemorate the 50 Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen's accession to the Throne. [6339]

Ms Rosie Winterton

I have been asked to reply.

Decisions on the grant of city status are made by the Queen, under the royal prerogative, on the advice of Ministers. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor will be responsible for advising the Queen on the towns in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to be granted city status to mark Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee after consulting other Ministers as he judges appropriate. These will include the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Ministers will be advised by their officials in the normal way. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department and I will not be involved in the consideration process because of our constituencies' potential interests in the outcome.

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