Local Government (Hansard, 10 July 1995)

§ 6. Lady Olga Maitland
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his future plans for local government in Wales. [31444]

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Gwilym Jones)
The work has already begun. The Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 is yet another form of the real devolution that the Government practise in the shape of the 22 new unitary authorities in Wales. We are taking local government closer to the people of Wales than it has ever been before.

§ Lady Olga Maitland
Has my hon. Friend noted that all Labour Members who represent Welsh seats have withdrawn their questions? Does he agree that they are either entirely satisfied with the Government's performance in Wales or they are trying to score cheap political points at the expense of their constituents?
In relation to local government in Wales, is my hon. Friend aware of the disgraceful way in which local councillors are allocating themselves increased allowances? In Mid Glamorgan, allowances went up by 400 per cent. Is that not outrageous? Will my hon. Friend take steps to prevent the new chief officers, who are about to be appointed, from following the same path?

§ Mr. Jones
Yes, I have noticed that there are no Welsh Opposition Members present. They are scoring yet more cheap points. It is typical of the Labour party in Wales—if it does not like the game, it will take the ball home. It is amazing that, when the Leader of the Opposition issues his orders to Welsh Labour Members, Welsh Liberal Democrat Members and Plaid Cymru Members also obey those orders.
My hon. Friend warns of the dangers of the gravy train in Wales, but I fear that the situation is worse than she suggested. The gravy train was not halted following the intervention of the leader of the Opposition, who told Mid Glamorgan Labour councillors to cut their allowances. They lowered the increase in their allowances from the proposed 400 per cent. to 200 per cent. I can think of many people in Mid Glamorgan and the rest of Wales who would like to receive a 200 per cent. increase.
When I spoke to the Association of District Councils' conference in Eastbourne recently, I made the point about the gravy train for officers and chief officers. I called on councils in Wales to stop the gravy train before it started for all new officers. I can assure my hon. Friend that the 608 staff commission is looking closely at the mater, and we understand that two councils have been persuaded to change their minds.

§ Mr. Hendry
Is my hon. Friend aware that the Labour party wants not only local government but regional government? Can my hon. Friend explain why it wants another tier of government?

§ Mr. John Marshall
More jobs for the boys.

§ Mr. Hendry
It could perhaps be that. Can my hon. Friend explain why Labour Members want more tiers of government when they are not prepared to attend the Chamber? Have not they insulted their constituents by ignoring their interests today?

§ Mr. Jones
I hesitate to do Labour Members' jobs for them. If they had turned up here today, they could have tried to explain their policies better. Out of all the complaints that we hear about what the Government are doing—not least in the Principality of Wales—the one thing we do not hear is that the problems could be solved by imposing another layer of government and bureaucracy. The Government are involved in the redevelopment of south Cardiff which, it is reliably estimated, will bring 20,000 new jobs to south Wales. The Opposition want to create the ultimate quango—more jobs for the boyos.