§ 20. Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning if he will make a statement about the timing and implementation of the Government's proposals to reform local government finance.
§ The Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning (Mr. Anthony Crosland)The Government's proposals will be set out in the Green Paper which was foreshadowed in the White Paper on the Reform of Local Government in England (Cmnd. 4276). I hope to publish the Green Paper in good time to allow for consultation and public discussion, and then to synchronise the implementation of its proposals with the changes in the structure of local government.
§ Mr. RidsdaleWill that be published before or after the General Election, as the right hon. Gentleman's predecessor promised this just before the 1966 election?
§ Mr. CroslandAs to the first part of the hon. Member's supplementary question, this no doubt will depend on the date of the General Election, which I cannot forecast to the House today. As to the second part, owing to the unique importance which this Government attach to local government, regional planning, pollution and other matters, I have no predecessor, and never had one.