HC Deb 18 June 1963 vol 679 cc203-4
16. Mr. Fell

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the report of the Local Government Commission, what are his proposals regarding the future administration of the County Borough of Great Yarmouth.

Sir K. Joseph

I must await the Local Government Commission's final proposals before I consider the future administration of Great Yarmouth. So far the Commission has issued draft proposals only and it will be discussing these with the local authorities concerned.

Mr. Fell

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that Answer and, of course, realising that that was the fact, may I ask him kindly to note that the ancient Borough of Great Yarmouth is really proud of the administration of the town? The people are fairly satisfied with the administration—although there is always room for improvement—and particularly the administration of education and welfare, especially for old people. I hope, therefore, that my right hon. Friend will consider these matters very carefully when, eventually, he gets the final report.

Sir K. Joseph

There will be ample opportunities for these and any other points to be made in the further stages that must ensue before final proposals, let alone any decisions on them, are ready.

18. Mr. Fell

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs in what way local citizens in Great Yarmouth were consulted by the Local Government Commission for England before it submitted its draft proposals for Lincolnshire and East Anglia.

Sir K. Joseph

I am informed by the Local Government Commission that local citizens were at the beginning of the review given the opportunity to make representations. None were received but the Commission did, of course, discuss the future local government of the town with elected representatives.

Mr. Fell

Really, this procedure is not good enough. I think the House knows that one just cannot get away with it in this way. Does not my right hon. Friend realise that I can find no authority in the area—no county council, no county borough and no rural district council—which wants Yarmouth to lose its county borough status? Could he not possibly be guilty of a slight impropriety and tip the wink to the Commission that if in its final proposals it leaves out the proposal that Yarmouth should lose its county borough status, it would save him a lot of trouble later on?

Sir K. Joseph

No one pretends that the procedure of local government review is popular, but no one can deny that there are the most elaborate precautions to take the opinions of everyone in sight.