Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what role has the Local Government Boundary Commission for England played in reviewing the electoral wards and divisions being proposed by local authorities to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of the unitary local government restructuring.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has provided advice and guidance to local authorities to support them in their work to develop interim electoral arrangements for submission to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. This has included making available its electoral review guidance which sets out the criteria used for determining ward boundaries during a normal review.

The Commission has made clear that local authorities should, as far as possible, have regard to the criteria that would inform an electoral review - electoral equality, community identity and interests, and effective and convenient local government – in developing their interim electoral arrangements.

The Commission will undertake a full electoral review of all newly-formed authorities before their subsequent elections.