The new principal areas (determined by reference to areas which, immediately before the passing of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, are local government areas) are set out in Parts I and II of Schedule 4 to this Act.

Each of the new principal areas shall have the name given to it in Schedule 4.

The new principal areas set out in Part I of Schedule 4 shall be counties and those set out in Part II of that Schedule shall be county boroughs.

In this Act “principal area”, in relation to Wales, means a county or county borough.

The counties which were created by this Act, as originally enacted, as counties in Wales, and the districts within them, shall cease to exist on 1st April 1996 except that the preserved counties shall continue in existence (with, in some cases, modified boundaries) for certain purposes.

The councils of the counties and districts mentioned in subsection (6) above shall cease to exist on 1st April 1996.

The areas of the preserved counties are set out in Part III of Schedule 4 and are determined by reference to local government areas in existence immediately before the passing of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994.

The Secretary of State may by order change the name by which any of the preserved counties is for the time being known.

Any such order shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

The Welsh name of each of the new principal areas is shown in Schedule 4 immediately after its English name.