To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposal by the independent inspection report on Northamptonshire County Council to create two unitary councils in Northamptonshire on shared services between South Northamptonshire District Council and Cherwell District Council in Oxfordshire; and if he will make a statement.

Following receipt of the Northamptonshire County Council Best Value Inspection report, the Secretary of State has invited principal councils in Northamptonshire to develop and submit proposals for establishing unitary councils across the county. In assessing any proposals submitted to him the Secretary of State will consider the extent to which they are likely to improve, as compared with existing structures including where relevant the arrangements between South Northamptonshire and Cherwell District Councils, local government and service delivery across the area of the proposal.