To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to submit the invitation to Bedfordshire County Council, Mid-Bedfordshire District Council and South Bedfordshire District Council to submit proposals for unitary government in the Mid-Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire districts. (163959)

On 19 November 2007, we issued a further invitation to three Bedfordshire councils to submit proposals for the area covered by Mid-Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire district councils. In response, we received a joint proposal from Mid-Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire district councils on 14 December.

On 19 December, we published a consultation paper, seeking views on this proposal. The consultation closes on 13 February 2008.