§ 2.35 p.m.
VISCOUNT MERSEYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are now in a position to make a statement concerning the Report of the Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London; and whether it is their intention to introduce legislation on this subject during the present Parliamentary session.]
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government are very conscious of the need to avoid delay in reaching their conclusions on this Report. But many important and complex problems are involved, and widely diverse views have been expressed about the Royal Commission's proposals by local authorities and other bodies. These are being urgently studied by my right honourable friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and his colleagues, and a statement will be made as soon as possible. Your Lordships will appreciate that until the Government have reached decisions on the broad questions of policy involved it is impossible to forecast what legislation may be needed, or when it might be introduced—though it would be safe to say that no legislation could be brought before Parliament during the present Session.
VISCOUNT MERSEYMy Lords. I should like to thank the noble Earl for his very civil reply, although it does not get us very much further. Is he aware that delay in this matter is causing considerable difficulty and unrest among 384 local government officers in London and with London boroughs, and could he not give us some rather more definite time when legislation might he introduced? If it is not to be this Session, could he perhaps say that it will definitely be introduced next Session?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords. I am afraid that I cannot give my noble friend the further information for which he is pressing; but in reply to his supplementary question, I can say that the Government are, of course, fully aware of the uncertainty caused by delay, and that they are most anxious to bring this period of uncertainty to an end as soon as possible. But the size and the importance of the subject, which I am sure my noble friend appreciates, makes it impossible, and indeed, undesirable, to rush to conclusions on this matter.