§ 25. Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Health if and when he will circulate his local government proposals for discussion by the local authorities concerned?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend hopes to circulate a memorandum for discussion by local authorities at an early date.
§ Sir K. WOODWe shall do all that we can to expedite our communication to the local authorities.
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNWill the local authorities include Poor Law authorities?
§ Sir K. WOODI should like notice of that question. Certain authorities are only concerned with certain aspects of local government.
§ 26. Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Health if he will give an assurance that the proposed Local Government Bill will await the Report of the Royal Commission on Local Government, which is now completing its investigations?
§ Sir K. WOODNo, Sir. The programme of the Government must proceed on the lines announced by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. There is, however, a very substantial field of inquiry within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission which is not covered by the Budget proposals, and, as at present advised, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health sees no reason to interrupt the satisfactory progress which, as implied in the question, the Commission are making with their labours in that field. My right hon. Friend is, however, in consultation with the Chairman of the Commission on the position.
§ Mr. HURDDoes that consultation include a suggestion that the Royal Commission should make its Report at the earliest possible moment, so that it may be available to this House?
§ Sir K. WOODThat may be a matter of consultation such as I have indicated, but I cannot say.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERCould Members of the House, pending the issue of the Report of the Royal Commission, be given a memorandum of the views of the Royal Commission on these matters?
§ Sir K. WOODI do not see how it would be possible to give the views of the Royal Commission until they have reported, and their views are known and ascertained.