Phil Woolas MP
Minister of State
Department for Communities and Local Government
Eland House
Bressenden Place
London SW1E 5DU

Dear Minister,

Unitary Authorities –the Wiltshire Bid

Please would you be so kind as to explain to me the legal basis on which the Government is proceeding with its plan for a Unitary Authority for Wiltshire?

I had understood that the legal basis on which any review of local government should take place is set down in the Local Government Act 1992, section 13. In this section the Secretary of State may request the Electoral Commission to undertake a review. It is my understanding that section 17 (1) of the 1992 Act states that structural changes can be effected by order of the Secretary of State upon the recommendations of the Electoral Commission. Where there is no request to the Electoral Commission to consider structural changes, then the Secretary of State has no authority to carry out any review.

Please can you confirm whether or not this is the case?

Yours sincerely