Sir Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to enhance the (a) remit and (b) powers of Town and Parish Councils following the replacement of District and County Councils by unitary authorities; and what the the proposed relationship between those two levels of local authorities will be after reorganisation.  [30032]

[Due for Answer on 13 February. Answered on 17 February.]

ANSWER

The Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution (Jim McMahon): The English Devolution White Paper was clear that we know people value the role of governance at the community scale. All levels of local government have a part to play in bringing improved structures to their area through reorganisation. We will therefore want to see stronger community arrangements when reorganisation happens in the way councils engage at a neighbourhood or area level.