Local Government (Hansard, 24 January 1977)

§ 10. Mr. Grist
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for reforming the structure of local government in Wales.

§ Mr. Alec Jones
As announced in Cmnd. 6585, the Government will ask the Welsh Assembly when established to consider and report on future local government structure in Wales.

§ Mr. Grist
Does the Minister accept that that answer will simply cause greater confusion and uncertainty to the staffs and authorities concerned? Does he accept that any legislation affecting the reorganisation of local government will come from his Department and be his responsibility unless the Secretary of State intends to be a mere messenger for draft Bills proposed by the Assembly?

§ Mr. Alec Jones
It is clear to most hon. Members that any legislation needed to reorganise local government in Wales will depend on the views and decisions made in this Parliament. However, it is equally right and proper that, if an Assembly is to be set up, it should make its views known on this important subject, since very few people in Wales are satisfied with the present system of local government foisted on us by the Conservatives.

§ Mr. Roy Hughes
Will the Minister bear in mind that later this evening we shall be dealing with a Bill designed to mitigate the ill effects of water reorganisation? Is he aware also that this morning was published the report of the consultants who originally recommended reorganisation of the National Health Service but who now describe it as costly, remote and very bureaucratic? Does he not agree that the last reorganisation of local government was 10 times worse than that of the NHS? Is all this not one of the principal arguments in favour of creating a Welsh Assembly?

§ Mr. Alec Jones
I think that it is perfectly true that, with or without the Welsh Assembly, it would be necessary to take another look at the existing structure of local government in Wales. I agree with my hon. Friend that many of the measures concerned with local government, water and National Health Service reorganisation were disastrous for Wales.