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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether it is her Department’s policy to follow the six month Gould Principle in relation to (a) the commencement of the measures in the Representation of the People Bill and (b) changes to election timetables and boundaries in relation to local government restructuring.

The Government aspires to follow the Gould principle wherever relevant, but we recognise that in some situations this may not be possible. We continue to work closely with stakeholders on implementation of the Representation of the People Bill, and with councils on local government restructuring, to ensure that they have the clarity and support that they need, and appropriate time to prepare to deliver any changes successfully.