§ 6. Mr. Andersonasked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to restructure local government in Wales simultaneously with the creation of the proposed Welsh Assembly.
§ Mr. John MorrisNone.
§ Mr. AndersonAs recent public opinion polls indicate that the present mood in Wales is against constitutional change, does my right hon. and learned Friend consider that if one tier were eliminated the mood might change? Again, last Wednesday my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister spoke scathingly of what he called
in local government—duplication, double banking, a vastly increased bureaucracy, super-chiefs…".—[Official Report, 19th November 1975; Vol. 901, c. 47.]and so on. If my right hon. and learned Friend agrees with that, can he seriously envisage the present structure lasting for 10 years, or even five years, beyond today's date?
§ Mr. MorrisI should not like to forecast anything of the kind. I invite my hon. Friend not to place undue reliance upon public opinion polls. Others have done so in the past and have not been particularly successful—I speak with some feeling on that score. I assure my hon. Friend that the Government's intentions are not to create an additional tier of government. What is needed in Wales is to increase democratic control over existing responsibilities—mine and those of nominated bodies in Wales.
§ Mr. Gwynfor EvansWill the Secretary of State again confirm that it is the Government's policy not to take powers from the local authorities but rather to do as he has just stated—to transfer powers from the Welsh Office and from the nominated bodies to the Assembly and thus to democratise a stratum of government that already exists?
§ Mr. MorrisI have said repeatedly that the proposals that we shall put before the House will not materially affect the existing functions of local government. If it pleases hon. Members, as I am sure it will, I shall say it again.
§ Mr. RoderickIf my right hon. and learned Friend does not foresee changes 465 in local government coming about immediately, or simultaneously with publication of the Bill, will he set up a working party to investigate what should happen to local government so that we can soon re-examine the position and bring about changes? Will he also press upon our right hon. Friend the need for two Bills when we are considering the Welsh and Scottish Assemblies? In opposition we pressed for a separate Bill for the reorganisation of local government in Wales. Will he now press for a separate Bill on this issue?
§ Mr. MorrisI am sorry to disappoint my hon. Friend, but the answer is "No". What we propose is one Bill to cover both Scotland and Wales. Local government reorganisation is a matter for which I bear no responsibility. That is the responsibility of Opposition Members and we are paying the price of it now in Wales.