Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21621 on Unitary Councils, what was the (a) research or (b) methodological basis for the population figure of 500,000.

The overall case for local government reorganisation is set out the English Devolution White Paper. New unitary councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks.On the 5 February, I formally invited unitary proposals from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries.

The guidance provided with the letter sets out that: “As a guiding principle, new councils should aim for a population of 500,000 or more” and “There may be certain scenarios in which this 500,000 figure does not make sense for an area, including on devolution, and this rationale should be set out in a proposal”. It is for councils to develop and submit proposals that are in the best interests of the area.