§ Mr. M. StewartI beg leave to present to this honourable House the humble Petition of citizens living and working in the County of London and in the surrounding counties, and I understand that in so doing I may make a short statement indicating the number of signatures, the parties from whom the Petition comes, the material allegations in the Petition and the remedy for which Prayer is made.
There are over 172,000 signatures, which is the largest number of any London Petition presented to this House for very many years. The first sheet which I hold in my hand, and the other sheets which have been laid before the Table, were formally presented to me this morning by mayors of boroughs and chairmen of urban district councils and other persons notable in the public life of Greater London, ranging from as near at hand as Lambeth to as far afield as Barnet on the edge of the area with which the Petition is concerned.
I draw attention to the fact that this first sheet bears the signature of Sir William Holford, recently President of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Among other signatories are to be found the names of the Noble Lords the Earl of Longford and Lord Nathan, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mr. Ede), Sir John Wenham of Surrey County Council, Dame Edith Evans, Sir Michael Redgrave, Dame Peggy Ashcroft, Mr. Frank Cousins, Sir William Carron, Mr. John Betjeman, Mr. Charles Forte, Sir John Summerson, Mrs. Mary Stocks and many other persons of all political opinions or none and eminent in many different walks of public life.
I need not detain the House with the material allegations as, in accordance with custom, I shall request the Clerk to read the text of the Petition. I merely mention that it describes the proposals which Her Majesty's Government have laid before this House concerning local government in Greater London as unwelcome to the people in London and as calculated to inflict great injury on education, housing, town planning, architecture, health services, the care of children, the aged and the handicapped, and on culture, recreation and sport, and as liable to impose an increased rate burden on the populace.
1277 Wherefore the Petitioners pray that this honourable House will reject the proposal, and the Petition concludes, as is proper, with the words:
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.In view of the importance of the subject matter and the large number of petitioners, I beg you, Mr. Speaker, to instruct the Clerk of the House to read the Petition to the House.
§
The CLERK (Sir BARNETT COCKS) read the Petition to the House as follows:
The Humble Petition of citizens living and working in the County of London and the surrounding counties showeth:
That Her Majesty's Government have put forward proposals for the re-organisation of London Local Government which involve the abolition of the County Councils of London and Middlesex, the severance of the Counties of Essex, Kent and Surrey and the elimination of all the present authorities in Greater London except the City of London and the Borough of Harrow.
That these proposals would break up many services now humanely and efficiently administered by County Councils, in particular the services for health, for the welfare of the old and handicapped and for the care of children.
That these proposals would delay the building of homes and impair the management of housing estates; are inimical to good architecture and town planning and would gravely restrict the provision now made for culture, entertainment and sport.
That the education service for children, young students and adults in the County of London would be severed from other county services and subjected to greater uncertainty as to its future; that outside the County of London the county service for education will be destroyed; and that this proposal is strongly opposed by parents and teachers.
That teams of experienced workers, now serving the County Councils, will be broken up; and that great uncertainty and anxiety are caused to employees of all local authorities affected by these proposals.
That for these reasons the proposals are unwelcome to the people of London and adjoining areas, and that the weight of eminent and expert opinion among architects, doctors, magistrates, teachers, social workers and others, is opposed to these proposals.
That it has not been demonstrated that the proposals of Her Majesty's Government offer any positive advantages to compensate for these defects; and that other proposals, free from these defects, have been advanced and not yet adequately considered.
1278
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that Your Honourable House will …
Reject the proposals for the re-organisation of local government in. London and the surrounding areas as planned by Her Majesty's Government which would
—Inflict permanent injury upon essential public services, notably education; housing; personal and public health services; town planning and architecture; the youth services; the care of children, the aged and the handicapped;
—Impose an increased rate burden on the people in the area; and,
—Adversely affect cultural activities, recreation and sport.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
§ Mr. Hector HughesOn a point of order. Would it not be reasonable for the House to be given credit for the time which has been taken in presenting this Petition, however noble the Petition may be?
§ Mr. SpeakerIf the hon. and learned Gentleman has any proposal for the reform of our procedure, it will have to be dealt with at some other time.
§ Mr. MellishOn a point of order. I want to be clear about the procedure for dealing with this Petition. This Petition, signed by more than 170,000 people, concerns a certain Bill. Is it not right and proper that the Minister of Housing and Local Government, against whom they are petitioning, should be present?
§ Mr. SpeakerOn no conceivable ground could that be a point of order for me.
§ Mr. SpeakerIs this a different point of order?
§ Mr. GowerYes, Mr. Speaker. If an hon. Member submits a Petition of this kind, is it not necessary for us to have some idea whether each signatory has a correct knowledge of the contents of it?
§ Mr. SpeakerIf the hon. Member looks at the Standing Order he will find out what the requirements are.
§ Petition to lie upon the Table.