Local Government

Communities and Local Government written question – answered at on 19 November 2012.

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Photo of Jacob Rees-Mogg Jacob Rees-Mogg Conservative, North East Somerset

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

(1) if he will take steps to protect the historic and ancient county of Somerset from any encroachment by its neighbours as part of any response by his Department to Lord Heseltine’s report;

(2) if he will ensure the county of Avon is not recreated in any form as part of his response to Lord Heseltine’s report.

Photo of Brandon Lewis Brandon Lewis The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Communities and Local Government

As the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend Mr Pickles, informed the House on 12 November 2012, Hansard, columns 7-9, we are opposed to any imposition on local authorities of costly reorganisations, nor are we in the business of imposing boundary changes, whoever might be seeking them, on the councils concerned.

England’s counties continue to form an important part of our cultural and local identity in this country and people remain deeply attached to their home county. The historic English counties are one of the oldest forms of local government in western Europe, and Somerset itself dates back to both Anglo-Saxon and Norman times. This sense of pride and shared identity is one of the things that binds communities, and indeed our nation, together. Last year, my Department flew the Somerset flag alongside the Union flag to show our support for the county.

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