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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is the policy of her Department on recognising the new name of a local authority if it changes its name by resolution after vesting.

Local authorities can change their name under Section 74 of the Local Government Act 1972 if they conduct a council meeting specially convened for the purpose of deciding on the name and if no less than two-thirds of the members vote for it at said meeting. The legislation also sets out that notice of any change of name shall be sent to the relevant Minister at the Department, the Director General of the Ordnance Survey and to the Registrar General.