VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Essex County Council

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 30 June 2026UIN 13278

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what advice he received from civil servants at the (a) Department for Health and Social Care and (b) Department for Education on the potential options for the future structure of Essex Council.

Answered by Alison McGovern

Decisions on local government reorganisation are subject to collective agreement in the usual way.

A summary of the Secretary of State’s decision for Essex Councils, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock has already been provided at gov.uk here. The Government has no plans to publish the advice received.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim