To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will issue revised guidelines for the Local Government Commission.

We have no immediate plans to do so, but we are keeping the guidance under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Local Government Commission has correctly interpreted the guidance given to it with regard to (a) cost effectiveness, (b) community identity and (c) the case for unitary authorities.

These are matters which we shall be looking at as we receive the Local Government Commission's final recommendations for each review area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the interpretation by the Local Government Commission of the guidance given to it by his Department with regard to size and joint arrangements affecting any new arrangements for local government.

These are matters which we shall be looking at as we receive the Local Government Commission's final recommendations for each review area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the local authority associations on revision of the Local Government Commission's policy guidance.

The Association of County Councils and the Association of District Councils have given us their views and we are considering them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the recommendations of the Local Government Commission so far published.

The Local Government Commission has made final recommendations on the Isle of Wight only, and we are currently considering the Government's response.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assent he has made of the way in which the Local Government Commission has implemented the policy guidance issued by his Department.

This is a matter which we shall be looking at as we receive the Local Government Commission's final recommendations for each review area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what weight he expects the Local Government Commission to give to responses received from local people during stage 3 of the review in each first phase area.

Section 15 of the Local Government Act 1992 places a duty on the Local Government Commission to take into consideration all relevant representations made to it.