§ 36. Mr. Jenningsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much information is at the disposal of his Department about the machinery of local government.
§ Mr. MacCollA lot, Sir. But if the hon. Gentleman will let me know what 919 he has in mind I will give him a more specific reply.
§ Mr. JenningsI shall be interested to know how much more information the Minister needs. Would it not be better to deal with the reform of local government on the basis of a national plan—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. That is very interesting, but it does not arise on this Question.
§ Mr. JenningsI had not finished my supplementary question, Mr. Speaker, because of the interruptions opposite.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman must come to the subject matter of his supplementary question.
§ Mr. JenningsWould it not be better to deal with the reform of local government in the way I suggested rather than deal with it on the basis of a piecemeal tabling of Orders for separate areas?
§ Mr. MacCollMy right hon. Friend found this difficulty as soon as he came into office, and he has said that he is looking at the possibility of a much broader approach to the problem of the reform of local government than is possible under existing legislation. He is not responsible for that legislation.