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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for a Government response to the Petition of more than 32,000 signatures delivered to 10 Downing Street by the New Forest Together campaign on 7 September 2026.

The Government remains committed to local government reorganisation and to delivering simpler, more sustainable local government. The petition has been received and the Government will provide a response following consideration of the issues raised.

Since the petition was presented, the previous decision for Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton has been withdrawn and all proposals for the area remain under consideration. We will provide a further update by Christmas, and every area will have an outcome by early 2027.