HC Deb 14 July 1970 vol 803 cc1351-2
21. Mr. Denis Howell

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement about the Government's policy in respect of the future of local government.

Mr. Peter Walker

We shall implement local government reform on the principles laid down in my speech in the House on 18th February in the debate on the previous Government's White Paper Cmnd. 4276, and in accordance with the undertaking given in our Election manifesto.

Mr. Howell

The right hon. Gentleman has given us more detail in an interesting article today in the Birmingham Post—more than he has given Parliament, either in that debate or since. What time scale does he intend in order to bring about these major reforms, which he writes about today, and what proposals has he to deal with local government boundaries which he also writes about today?

Mr. Walker

There is nothing in that article in the Birmingham Post which is any different from that which was laid down in my speech in February.

Sir T. Brinton

But will my right hon. Friend make it clear that the previous Government's approval in principle of the Maud Report is cancelled? Will he go at least that far?

Mr. Walker

What I want to avoid is the view that Maud is scrapped or destroyed or that no notice is taken of it. Both the previous Government and the present Government considered that the Report was very important and that any reform of local government must consider it, and belief in the need to create larger authorities is shared by both sides of the House.