§ 36. Mr. W. J. Fieldasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will recommend the establishment of a Royal Commission to consider the reform of local government in England and Wales and to make proposals.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanNo, Sir.
§ Mr. FieldIs the Minister aware that the local government associations have been negotiating among themselves on this matter for some considerable time without appreciable result, and does not he think the best way to deal with the matter would be for all interested bodies, including the associations, to present their evidence on this important matter to the body I have suggested?
§ Mr. MacmillanI do not think it would. We had six years of the previous Administration, we had the Boundary 188 Commission which operated until it was abolished, and I do not see much object in having a Royal Commission now. Quite a lot of information exists about this subject, and if we are able to reach a decision and produce legislation we shall do so. I do not think that the suggestion of the hon. Gentleman would help at this stage, and there is nothing worse than the attitude of sending things to a Royal Commission in the hope that nobody will ever do anything about them.
§ Mr. FieldIs not the Minister aware that this long delay is having a very bad effect on local government, and will he not make up his mind at long last?
§ Mr. MacmillanI do not think the delay can be laid at my door.