asked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in the discussions on the future of local government in Wales and Monmouthshire.

The Inter-Departmental Working Party which is working on this has prepared first drafts of alternative models for reorganisation which it is at present discussing with informal advisers drawn from the local government world. When the Working Party has completed its consultations and reported to me, I shall have further consultations with the local authority associations and will set out my proposals in a White Paper.