To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) whether district, town and parish council elections will be held in South Bedfordshire District in May 2008 following the proposals for a unitary council for this area in 2009; and if she will make a statement; (160879)

On 25 July my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that she was minded to implement Bedford borough’s proposal for unitary status and that we intend formally to invite all other councils in Bedfordshire to propose a unitary solution that would meet the criteria for that remaining area. We have yet to take final decisions on the structural arrangements in Bedfordshire and whether, as a consequence, there are to be district, town and parish elections in 2008.