HC Deb 04 February 1981 vol 998 cc283-4
14. Mr. Bob Dunn

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance has been given to councilors regarding the extent of local authorities' statutory duties.

Mr. King

Although we do not issue guidance to councillors as a matter of course, we seek to respond helpfully to specific requests. Generally, the responsibility for advising councillors on these matters rests with their officers.

Mr. Dunn

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in many local authorities officers lead councillors to believe that they have a statutory responsibility, whereas sometimes the councillors could exercise discretion? Would it not be a good idea to publish a code of responsibility so that councillors know in which areas they could exercise discretion and those in which they have statutory responsibilities?

Mr. King

As my hon. Friend is aware, we have been reviewing the range of statutory duties. In the Local Government, Planning and Land Act we removed about 300 controls and duties that were applicable to local authorities. At present we are having discussions with the associations on the further review that has been conducted on statutory duties. On completion of those discussions, we may find that there is some good sense in my hon. Friend's proposition.

Mr. Skinner

Is it not a fact that local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure that there are sufficient houses fit for human habitation under the Public Health Act? Is not the Minister aware that the policy of the Government in running down housing completions to the lowest figure since the 1920s is an attempt to stop councils from carrying out their statutory duty to ensure that people have decent homes?

Mr. King

I imagine that the Labour Government had that statutory duty in mind when they halved the housing programme.