Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reasons the Minister for Local Government did not send an advance copy of the regulations for structural change in Dorset to the leader of Christchurch Borough Council contrary to the assurances given to the hon. Member for Christchurch in that Minister's letter of 27 March 2018 that he would do so; and whether his Department gave the Chief Executive of Christchurch Borough Council any advance notice of the intention to lay those regulations.

Letters to all Dorset MPs and council leaders, enclosing drafts of the proposed Regulations and Structural Change Order, were prepared for despatch on 27 March 2018. Due to an administrative error the letter to the Leader of Christchurch Borough Council was not issued.

I have personally apologised to Councillor Flagg for the error which was rectified when it was drawn to our attention. A letter of 20 March 2018 was sent to the Chief Executive of Christchurch Borough Council, enclosing the draft Regulations and explaining that it was proposed to lay the draft Regulations ahead of Easter Recess.