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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2017 to Question 63312, on unitary councils, how the principles enunciated in that answer apply to councils opposed to a particular proposal for reorganisation but with whom other councils refuse to collaborate or work jointly.

As I indicated in my previous answer, it is entirely for the councils concerned to decide whether and if so how they collaborate or work jointly, decisions on which they are accountable to their local electors.