HC Deb 01 March 1966 vol 725 cc1082-3
50. Sir C. Osborne

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the proposal to build a new city of 750,000 people on the south bank of the Humber in Lincolnshire, if he will suspend all local government boundary inquiries until a final decision on this major project is reached.

Mr. Crossman

Local inquiries have already been held into objections to the proposals of the Local Government Commission for the extension of Kingston upon Hull and Grimsby county boroughs. The Commission made no further proposals for the Humberside area.

Sir C. Osborne

Is the Minister aware of the ridiculous waste of time on the part of local government officials when they are asked to make inquiries into these proposed boundary alterations, when a much bigger scheme may be superimposed, making this work unnecessary?

Mr. Crossman

We are extremely desirous that all the work which can be done by the Commission shall be implemented in the two or three years ahead. Therefore, I permitted these inquiries to take place.