asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if employees of the Selnec Passenger Transport Executive will be eligible to be councillors of the proposed Greater Manchester Area Authority and the metropolitan district councils in which they live or work.

This is a subject which was recently discussed in Standing Committee and is for further consideration. As the Local Government Bill stands, employees of the Selnec Passenger Transport Executive will not be eligible for membership of the proposed Greater Manchester Area Authority. They will be eligible for membership of the metropolitan district councils within the area of that authority.