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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether elections to any new unitary authorities approved following the review of local government reorganisation will take place in May 2027.

I refer the Hon. Member to my oral statement of 29 October.

Elections scheduled for May 2027 will go ahead to existing councils. Subject to final decisions, elections to new councils will take place in May 2028, followed by vesting on 1 April 2029, apart from Surrey, where East Surrey and West Surrey will go live on 1 April 2027.