§ 24. Sir Charles Edwardsasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that articles and letters have appeared in the Press calling attention to the need for alteration of local government boundaries and for larger units of administration; to what extent local authorities are already giving attention to this; whether this was prompted by him; and what steps does he propose to take to carry it into effect?
§ Mr. E. BrownYes, Sir, and I have also seen the published views of the Association of Local Authorities, which indicate the amount of attention given to the matter in local government circles. The answer to the third part of the Question is "No," and, in reply to the last part, I would refer my right hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Penryn and Falmouth (Major Petherick) on 19th January.