HC Deb 14 March 1967 vol 743 cc195-6
24. Mr. Christopher Price

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to make it obligatory for employers to release employees who are members of a local authority for duties connected with that authority.

Mr. Greenwood

This question is within the terms of reference of the Committee on Management in Local Govern- ment under the Chairmanship of Sir John Maud. I shall, of course, consider any recommendation which it may make on the subject in its report, which is likely to be published in the summer.

Mr. Price

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is quite unreasonable to expect the quality of representatives of local government to improve simply through the interim report of the Maud Committee by giving them some sort of financial allowance, and that it is important to make employees—both wage earners and salary earners—feel some sort of obligation to local government in being released for this sort of duty?

Mr. Greenwood

This is one of the questions that we shall be in a better position to answer when we get Sir John Maud's report.