Question
The Minister knows, because we have discussed this many times, that the boundaries of historical counties and cities are very different from local government boundaries, and I am pleased that he has said today that city status is preserved, as are ceremonial matters. Will he finally allow historical and ceremonial counties to be as one, in order to avoid confusion, and so that we in Romford can have our Essex identity, regardless of local government boundaries? Will he give a cast-iron guarantee that there is no plan to merge the London borough of Havering with other east London boroughs to create some sort of super east London council?
Answer
I think I have enough on my plate without taking that on.
Verdict: RED (20/100)
The reply declines to take forward the boundary change and gives a reason, but the reason is brief and the answer does not engage with the specific points about Essex, Romford or historical boundaries, so it is only partly responsive. The question about whether there are plans to merge Havering with other east London boroughs is not addressed at all, and the reply gives no commitment either way. Overall, the answer is thin and vague, and the person asking would likely need to follow up for specifics.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Government change the boundaries of the ceremonial county so that it matches the historical county boundaries, so that Romford (in the London Borough of Havering) is within the ceremonial county of Essex? | Addressed | Hedged | The reply clearly declines to take on the boundary change, giving a stated (if flippant) reason of workload, which meets the decline-with-reason standard. It never engages with the Essex/Romford or historical-boundary specifics, so the substance is thin. |
| Will the Government guarantee that there are no plans to merge the London Borough of Havering with other east London boroughs to create a larger east London council? | Not Addressed | Generic | The reply says nothing about whether there are plans to merge Havering with other east London boroughs and gives no guarantee either way. |