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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will engage in a public consultation with the residents of Leicestershire prior to deciding which Local Government Reorganisation plans to approve.

Following the commitment made in the English Devolution White Paper in December, all two-tier councils and their neighbouring small unitary councils were invited in February to make proposals for unitary local government. Proposals for unitary local government are due to be submitted to Government by 28 November for the two invitation areas of i) Leicestershire, Leicester, Rutland and ii) Lincolnshire.

Following the submission of proposals, the Government will decide which, if any, to implement, following a statutory consultation, to which the Hon. Member’s constituents will be able to respond.