§ 57. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Health whether he has considered a resolution submitted from the Brentwood and District Ratepayers' Association, with the support of the Brentwood Urban District Council, containing serious allegations against the Essex County Council and demanding a public inquiry, and the enforcement of measures controlling the function of the county council; and whether he intends to take any action to prevent one local authority attacking another?
§ Mr. ElliotThe resolution has been brought to my notice, but the matter is not one in which I have any jurisdiction which would enable me to intervene.
§ Mr. SorensenWill the right hon. Gentleman do something to prevent this unwarrantable attack on the part of one local authority against another, especially in view of the fact that Democracy is on trial in the world at the present time?
§ Mr. ElliotSurely the hon. Member has just given the answer to his question, which is that this is a democratic country and that you cannot prevent one person attacking another.
§ Mr. SorensenWill not the right hon. Gentleman get into touch with the urban district council and similar bodies, and deprecate such attacks?
§ Mr. ElliotIt would lead me into a very difficult situation if I were to object to an attack by any public body on anybody else.