HC Deb 21 June 1955 vol 542 cc1120-1
21. Mr. T. Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that the Convention of Royal Burghs in Scotland representing all town councils, including the cities, and the District Councils' Association for Scotland, representing all the landward areas, have submitted to the Royal Commission on Scottish Affairs the need for an inquiry into the structure and functions of local authorities, if he will reconsider his decision not to appoint a committee of inquiry.

Mr. J. N. Browne

My right hon. Friend has received no representations on this subject from the Convention of Royal Burghs, and I regret that I cannot add to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave the hon. Member last week.

Mr. Fraser

Has not the Under-Secretary's right hon. Friend read the Report of the Royal Commission on Scottish Affairs, in which it was made clear that the Convention of Royal Burghs and the District Councils' Association asked for the inquiry? Since these associations represent authorities covering the whole population of Scotland, why were their representations not considered?

Mr. Browne

Of course, my right hon. Friend has read the Report. Paragraph 263 of the Report mentions the evidence given by the Convention of Royal Burghs, which was not supported by oral evidence. It went on to add that the Association of County Councils was emphatic that the existing arrangements should be left undisturbed.