HC Deb 18 July 1963 vol 681 c816
Mr. Corfield

I beg to move, in page 7, line 2 at the end to insert: and where two or more local authority members are to be appointed by the council of a county, the council (subject to the last preceding subsection, shall, so far as may be practicable, select persons each of whom has local associations with a different county district or group of county districts, having regard to the appropriate penny rate product for the relevant area of each county district council for the relevant year". I should like to say how much I appreciate the words of the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Dr. Stross), especially as I am now moving another Amendment which meets an undertaking given to him. In Committee he moved an Amendment whose object was to make county councils select their appointees to river authorities with regard to rateable value. I think that he had it in mind to go along the lines of Section 2 of the River Boards Act, 1948, but as we are dealing with smaller authorities and a number of local authorities, this is not entirely appropriate. We have put down this Amendment to meet that obligation, and we think it will be more easily followed by local authorities than the rather more rigid River Boards Act provisions which are not always complied with.

Dr. Stross

I rise merely to say that I am grateful.

Amendment agreed to.