To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will withdraw plans for unitary local government restructuring in Norfolk, Suffolk and Devon. (283829)

As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing told the House on 24 February 2009, Official Report, column 22-24WH, if appropriate unitary structures are identified they have the potential to offer real benefits for the residents of Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk by delivering better services, improved efficiency, stronger strategic leadership and genuine engagement and empowerment of local communities.

There is strong evidence that the nine new unitary authorities established on 1 April 2009 are already delivering such benefits, and we will therefore carefully consider any advice from the Boundary Committee, which we have requested by 15 July 2009, and intend to take our statutory decisions as to whether to implement any unitary proposals for these three county areas as soon as practicable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the gross cost to the public purse of the recent round of local government restructuring. (284073)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Westbury (Dr. Murrison) on 2 July 2009, Official Report, column 373W.