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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is taking steps to help ensure that the formal legal names of new (a) strategic authorities and (b) unitary councils reflect (i) local identities and (ii) long-standing associations.

The names of Strategic Authorities are decided in discussion with the constituent councils.

While the Government has not asked for names of new unitary councils to be included in proposals, we have set out that councils are welcome to include names. The Government will consult on final proposals before deciding on which, if any, proposal to implement. Views on names could be provided through those consultations. The secondary legislation that establishes a new unitary council will specify various matters, including the name. Representations will be sought from councils on those matters before the secondary legislation is agreed by the Minister and laid in Parliament.

Once established, new authorities will have the ability to change their name by resolution, should they wish to, using existing legislation.