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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30629 on Unitary Councils, whether there will be an allowed (a) minimum and (b) maximum variance of the proposed 500,000 population size for the new unitaries; and whether there is an absolute population size that should not be exceeded.

On 5 February, I wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and nearby smaller unitaries, inviting them to put forward proposals for reorganisation. This communication included guidance from the Secretary of State, highlighting that new councils should be appropriately sized to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity, and remain resilient to financial challenges. Ideally, new councils should aim for a population of 500,000 or more. However, it is recognised that there may be specific situations where this target may not apply, particularly in relation to devolution, and any such reasons should be clearly explained in each proposal. There are no set minimum or maximum population size requirements specified, and we expect a variety of proposals will follow.