sentences:  The county councils were abolished, but under the Local Government Act 1972, the counties themselves remain in existence, although they no longer exist in as extant administrative subdivisions.By virtue of the Lieutenancies Act 1997 they remain as ceremonial counties (sometimes called 'geographic counties') which have an appointed Lord Lieutenant.They are also used in certain government statistics, although they no longer appear on Ordnance Survey maps, which show the individual metropolitan boroughs.