§ 15. Mr. Leighasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received advocating the abolition of South Humberside county council.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy right hon. Friend has received four letters in the past six months advocating the abolition of Humberside county council—one from a student in Leeds, and three from a resident in Beverley.
§ Mr. LeighGiven that it is said of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire that never the twain shall meet except by the unused Humber bridge — known locally as the McNamara bridge in honour of a Labour party by-election victory in the 1960s — what purpose does the county council serve? It is a creation of the 1970s, unloved by the inhabitants and inconvenient, in terms of local government services, for those who live near its borders.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy hon. Friend will know that we are taking some steps in relation to local government reform. I am not sure whether we need to go much further at present. Under the Local Government Act 1972 it is the responsibility of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to review the area, and if it considers change desirable to make proposals accordingly to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. We have no power to initiate the proposals.
§ Mr. MasonHow many organisations within south Yorkshire have made representations to the Minister for the abolition of the South Yorkshire county council? I guess that the answer is not many. Do the Government intend to persist with legislation designed to abolish the county councils next year?
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe answer to the last question is yes. I should add that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has put in the Library details of the number of representations made for and against abolition.