§ 14. Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to protect the interests of councillors who suffer financial loss as a result of service on local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. WhiteRegulations which came into force on 6th February prescribed new maximum amounts for the financial loss allowance to which members of local authorities are entitled in respect of the performance of their duties. For the longer term, we have recently announced that it is intended to work out, in consultation with the local authority bodies, substantial improvements in allowances.
§ Mr. HughesDoes my right hon. Friend appreciate that there is a need to attract many more industrial workers, particularly younger ones, into local government service, but that they are deterred from going into local government service 10 by financial penalties? As a custodian of the local government service in Wales, will my right hon. Friend's Department ensure that this situation is remedied?
§ Mrs. WhiteI have much sympathy with what my hon. Friend says, but I would refer him to paragraph 80 of the recently published White Paper on the Reform of Local Government.