§ 43. Mr. Keelingasked the Minister of Health what progress he has made in settling the range of functions to be entrusted to local authorities; and how soon the rearrangement of the areas of metropolitan borough councils and the distribution of functions between them and the L.C.C., which were suspended last year, will be resumed.
§ Mr. BevanThe hon. Member is aware of the measures at present before Parliament affecting the functions of local authorities. There is no present intention of resuming the inquiry to which reference is made in the latter part of the Question.
§ Mr. KeelingIs the Minister of Health aware that continued suspense in London is putting a dead hand on some departments of London local government?
§ Mr. BevanI am aware that the present situation for many local authorities is unsatisfactory, but until the pattern of London and especially the probable distribution of the population is better known, it would be premature to determine the function of local authorities and the relationship between local authorities; I am hoping that before very long there will be wider discussion on this issue.