HC Deb 12 June 1991 vol 192 cc905-6
19. Mr. Dunn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received any representations seeking recreation of the GLC.

Mr. Portillo

I have not received any representations seeking recreation of the GLC.

Mr. Dunn

I speak for the people of Dartford and north-west Kent when I tell the Minister that we are opposed to any move to recreate the GLC and to extend its boundaries to the M25, as is the policy of the Labour party. Is my hon. Friend aware that that would mean the end of Dartford as an independent borough in the county of Kent?

Mr. Portillo

The extraordinary thing is that even the Labour party is so embarrassed about the record of the GLC that it has to say that it will not recreate it. We know that if a Labour Government were elected, they would try to recreate something similar, but with greater powers and more bureaucracy. They would like to give it powers over the police. I cannot imagine anything worse than the body that indulged in undermining the police being given such powers.