HC Deb 12 April 1972 vol 834 cc1249-51
18. Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further consultations he proposes to have with local authorities about his draft boundary proposals in the reorganisation of local government.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

My right hon. Friend has already had full consultations with local authorities on local government boundaries. Consultations about electoral divisions are still proceeding.

Mr. Eadie

The hon. Gentleman must be aware of the grave disquiet about the draft boundary proposals. Will he assure the House that there will not be inflicted upon us the type of protests we are receiving from every English local authority about the boundary proposals? Will he do a better job than that?

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

I assure the hon. Gentleman that I can and will do a very good job. He may not have been in the House on 15th March when I gave an assurance and spelt out the procedures for consideration of the proposals. He may also have omitted to recognise that the proposals we put forward are of a provisional nature and subject to consultation and discussion.

Mr. Clark Hutchison

Does my hon. Friend know that Edinburgh should remain an all-purpose authority and that that is the wish of all the citizens of Edinburgh?

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

I know that that is the wish of my hon. Friend but it does not really arise from the Question.

Mr. Ross

I believe that Lady Tweedsmuir was in charge of these negotiations. Which Minister is now in charge?

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State takes responsibility for the negotiations. My Department is dealing with electoral reform to which the Question specifically refers.

Mr. Maclennan

On a point of order. I wonder, Mr. Speaker, whether you will bear in mind that the Government have refused to give parliamentary time to debate the question of local government reform in Scotland?

Mr. Speaker

No question of order can arise on that.

20. Mr. Lambie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now postpone the proposed reorganisation of local government in Scotland in order to carry out an investigation into local government finance.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

No, Sir. The Green Paper published last July, together with public discussion and consultation, provides an adequate basis for reaching decisions.

Mr. Lambie

As the Government are not prepared to postpone the reorganisation of local government in Scotland until an investigation has been undertaken into local government finance, surely we are entitled to a White Paper on local government finance which will clearly spell out the Government's intention of retaining the present system of financing local government expenditure from the rates.

Mr. Campbell

The hon. Gentleman's argument is with his own Front Bench. When the Wheatley Royal Commission was set up by the previous Government the question of finance was specifically excluded from its remit and no other Royal Commission or body was given the task of considering it. When we came to office in June, 1970, it was nine months after the Wheatley Commission had reported and still there had been no outside inquiry. An internal inquiry had been started which we naturally had to finish.

Sir J. Gilmour

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the Green Paper on how rating should be carried out in future has not met with satisfaction from any body of responsible people and that it is high time a fresh look was taken at this matter?

Mr. Campbell

The Green Paper is a paper for discussion. I, too, am well aware of the imperfections of the rating system, but no one yet in the discussions—and I invite anyone to do so now—has put forward an alternative practical constructive proposal.

Mr. Maclennan

Will the Secretary of State postpone the proposed reorganisation of local government in Scotland until he has taken on board the arguments put forward in Sutherland that his decision to stand his own proposals on their head with regard to the Burgh of Tain and exclude it from Sutherland is deliberately intended to deprive Sutherland of the benefits and developments of the Inner Moray Firth area? If he will not do that, will he accede to the request I have made time and again to authorise the crossing of the Dornoch Firth?

Mr. Campbell

As I was on the outskirts of Tain only last Thursday, I am well aware that there are contrary views.