§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the working group on local government representation to issue its final recommendations; whether those recommendations will be published; and what timetable for the working group has been established. [162430]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe role of the Working Group is to enable Government to consider with key interested parties the practical arrangements for implementing structural and boundary changes arising in any local government re-organisation in the event that one or more of the three Northern regions of England votes in favour of a Regional Assembly. Its remit is not to make formal recommendations nor does it have a specific pre-planned timetable. Its first meeting was on 9 March and there will be a number of meetings of the Group and its sub-groups before the autumn.