HC Deb 21 January 1998 vol 304 c1004
9. Mr. Nicholls

What meetings he has had with representatives from local government in Wales regarding the Welsh assembly. [21971]

Mr. Ron Davies

I have had three formal meetings with leaders of the Welsh Local Government Association at which the Welsh assembly was discussed. The first was on 2 June, when we discussed progress towards the White Paper. The second was on 28 August, when the WLGA publicly confirmed its support for the assembly. The third was on 15 December, when I and the association signed "A Framework for Partnership in Wales", which sets out the way in which relations between central and local government in Wales will be conducted.

Mr. Nicholls

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the concerns expressed about the way in which the various counts were conducted are not merely vague rumours? Does not he understand that when members even of his own constituency party who, after all, would have approved of the verdict that resulted, are so concerned that they take up with the counting officer their concerns about the way in which the result was handled, the only way to restore confidence is to have an independent judicial inquiry? What is the right hon. Gentleman concerned about? Is it the fact that, if there were a re-run, he would not win a second time?

Mr. Davies

I assure the hon. Gentleman and the House that the representations that were made to the counting officer in Caerphilly have been properly and fully answered. If the hon. Gentleman has any questions whatever, he should put them and I shall ensure that they are properly answered. I hope that he will stop sneering and trying to blight by innuendo public servants who have served the public interest in Wales well.

The hon. Gentleman asked about local government and the relationship between regional and local government. I refer him to a letter that I received from a very prominent local government leader. It says: we are playing our part in helping to devolve power to the regions and look forward to a stronger partnership emerging between local government and the regional structures that are now being created. That letter was written by Councillor Brian Greenslade, who is the leader of Devon county council. If the hon. Gentleman is interested in a developing relationship between local and regional government, I suggest that he looks a little closer to home than Wales.