§ 19. Mr. Bullardasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the cost to the Exchequer to date of the Lincolnshire and East Anglia general review carried out by the Local Government Commission for England.
§ Sir K. JosephAs the Commission is engaged on several reviews at the same time I am afraid that it is not possible to identify the cost of this review.
§ Mr. BullardWould it not be a good thing if an account were kept of the separate operations of the Boundary Commission? Even if the sum involved in these reviews is not in itself tremendous, would it not be better to spend the money on something more beneficial rather than preparing all these reports and maps, cutting snippets off one local authority area and sticking it on another, thus encouraging local authorities of all kinds in territorial ambitions against their neighbours?
§ Sir K. JosephIt would be immensely more costly if we were to sit still and do nothing about bringing local government boundaries up to date.
§ 20. Mr. Bullardasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consultation took place between the Local Government Commission for England and the parish councils of the parishes affected by the draft proposals with respect to the county boundary between Norfolk and the Isle of Ely.
§ Sir K. JosephI am informed by the Local Government Commission that these parish councils along with others in the review area, were given the opportunity to make representations at the opening of the review. They did not do so at that stage but they now have a further opportunity to make representations on the draft proposals. They will also be invited to take part in the statutory conference which the Commission will be holding before it prepares its final report.
§ Mr. BullardIs it not a fact that this approach was made to the parish councils a very long time ago and that the consequences of their not replying were not as apparent to them then as they now are? Is. my right hon. Friend aware that if they were allowed to make representations now, almost all of them would do so in a sense contrary to the preliminary proposals of the Commission?
§ Sir K. JosephI do not see that the Commission can be blamed for giving good notice of its inquiry. There are ample further stages in which the views of the authorities concerned can be taken.
§ Sir H. Legge-BourkeIs my right hon. Friend aware that the parishes in the Isle of Ely which join those in Norfolk just over the border were also covered by the East Midlands Review? Can he give some indication of whether he proposes to lay any Orders as a result of the East Midlands review before or not until the East Anglian Report has been considered?
§ Sir K. JosephMy hon. Friend will realise that that is another question.