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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on doughnut-sized unitary local authorities.

The English Devolution White Paper announced a programme of local government reorganisation for two-tier areas, and set out that Government will also facilitate reorganisation for those unitary councils where there is evidence of failure or where their size or boundaries are impacting on their responsibilities. Some of these councils are included in the invitations to develop proposals for reorganisation that were sent to all councils in two-tier areas and neighbouring small unitaries on the 5^th February.

Following submission, we will consider any and all proposals carefully before taking decisions on how to proceed. We will evaluate each case on its own merits against the criteria set out in the letter which includes that proposals should be for a “sensible geography”.

The Government is open to discussions with all areas where structural change will help them get onto a more sustainable footing.