HC Deb 19 July 1962 vol 663 cc606-7
6. Mr. M. Stewart

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will make an order under Section 2 (3) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act, 1960, adding to the list of bodies in the Schedule to that Act the committees for new towns described in paragraph 2 of the First Schedule to the New Towns Act, 1959

Sir K. Joseph

No, Sir. The character and functions of the local committees set up by the Commission for the New Towns are quite different from those of the other bodies listed in the Act of 1960.

Mr. Stewart

Would not the Minister accept that the functions of the bodies already listed differ a great deal from one another, so that really that is not an answer at all? As the decisions taken by these committees are of great interest to townspeople, will he reconsider his reply?

Sir K. Joseph

I think not, because although they are naturally of great interest to townspeople, the Commission will devise its own methods of publicity. These are really only management committees dealing with what are essentially, in most cases, likely to be personal matters where attendance at meetings is not in the interests of the people concerned.