HC Deb 29 May 1962 vol 660 cc1138-9
15. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now indicate the approximate timetable and progressive stages of implementation in the proposed London local government reorganisation;and whether the whole scheme affecting all existing local authorities will operate as from a specified date.

Dr. Hill

It remains the Government's aim, as stated in the White Paper on London Government (Cmnd. 1562), to introduce legislation in time for the new authorities to be elected and to take over from the existing authorities in April, 1965, in all cases.

Mr. Sorensen

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication in the interim period as to the stages through which this reconstruction will pass, because there is a good deal of ambiguity and a certain amount of suspense, which might be alleviated if the various authorities knew for certain that on certain dates certain stages would be passed?

Dr. Hill

For much of that the hon. Gentleman will have to await the Bill, but if he has a particular issue or service in mind and he will table a Question, I will seek to help him, though I cannot guarantee in advance to help him.

Mr. Mayhew

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will give a great deal more careful consideration to the remaining proposals than he did to his proposals on education in the White Paper, which were criminally slapdash and haphazard?

Dr. Hill

I have given a great deal of consideration to the problems which I promised to consider. There has been nothing either criminal or slapdash about that.