§ 29 . Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the longer distances councillors on the new Greater London boroughs and on the Greater London authority will have to travel in order to attend council meetings and committee meetings, if he is satisfied that existing powers are sufficient to enable the new administrative authorities to meet the out-of-pocket expenses and loss of wages incurred by councillors and, where necessary, to supply transport.
§ Mr. CorfieldThe distances involved in Greater London are by no means unusual. They would certainly not in themselves justify a departure from the arrangements which apply to local authorities generally.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that that is a merciless reply showing that he has no experience of the fact that, particularly in the new boroughs, great distances will have to be 1113 travelled involving much loss of time and extra expense? Can he not address himself to my proposal that power should be given to councils to send transport for those elected to local authorities?
§ Mr. CorfieldThese matters of reimbursement and allowances for local authority members are suitable subjects for the Maud Committee, to which my right hon. Friend referred earlier, but I cannot agree that these distances in themselves give rise to a special case. One has to remember that even the Greater London Area will be smaller than most of the counties, but it has a public transport system which is much more highly developed.
§ Mr. SorensenIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.