To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 31 January 2007, Official Report, columns 313-14W, on local polls, whether local polls may take place on the same day as a local government election should the local authority wish. (124364)

Local elections must be held in accordance with the Representation of the People Acts and legislation made under them. No provision has been made in those enactments which would enable a local poll to be combined with a poll to be taken at a local election. It is for a council to consider whether it is appropriate to run a local poll in parallel to a local election.