§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish a report, following elections to parish and town councils in May 2003, on the number of uncontested elections; and if he will make a statement on the implications of an uncontested election upon an application to become a quality parish council. [R] [108115]
§ Mr. LeslieInformation about parish council elections is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Whether a parish council election is or is not contested does not affect any application for quality parish council status. Criteria for such status include requirements about the proportion of council members who stood for election whether or not it was contested.