§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what criteria she uses to determine city status for local authorities; [70815]
(2) how many new cities she expects to create in the next three years. [70816]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonCity status is not a right that can be claimed by the meeting of specific criteria, but an honour granted by Her Majesty the Queen under the Royal Prerogative, on the advice of Ministers. Important Royal anniversaries (such as The Queen's Golden Jubilee) are the usual occasions for awards of city status to be made. Awards were made, exceptionally, to mark the Millennium. Her Majesty has not yet expressed a wish to create any more new cities and no awards are foreseen in the near future.