HL Deb 19 July 1966 vol 276 cc359-61

2.36 p.m.

LORD INGLEWOOD

My 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 will issue an instruction that the chairmen of advisory bodies, such as the regional economic planning councils, should at all times scrupulously avoid both undue publicity for themselves and any suggestion of the assumption by their councils of responsibilities beyond their limited advisory role as compared with the more important sphere of the county councils and other elected local authorities.]

LORD SHEPHERD

No, my Lords.

LORD INGLEWGOD

My Lords, may I then ask the noble Lord to think again about this subject, because, while there is this tendency to appoint an ever-increasing number of advisory bodies, there seems to be a parallel tendency for these bodies to attach undue importance to themselves and to use public relations techniques to build up their position at the expense of the elected authorities? This practice causes great irritation and surely is an affront to the democratic traditions of elected local authorities in this country.

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I am not aware of any special difficulties in this matter, but may I, in regard to the Regional Economic Planning Councils, which the noble Lord specifically mentioned in his Question, say that they have a very important role to play and I think they have a special duty to inform the public of what they are doing and what is in their minds. I am informed that, on July 15, at a meeting of representatives of the Economic Planning Councils, the local authorities and local industry, attended by the First Secretary, there was no expression of dissatisfaction—nor, so far as I know, has there been at any other time—between the representatives of the local authorities and the Council. I recognise the dangers to which the noble Lord referred, but I am not aware that any of these advisory bodies which have been set up has in any way transgressed as has been suggested by the noble Lord.

LORD INGLEWOOD

My Lords, may I thank the noble Lord for that reply and ask him to notice that my Question includes the word "undue" in front of "publicity". I do appreciate that all these bodies have important functions, but may I ask the noble Lord to keep in close touch with what is happening in different parts of the country, because at present it seems that he is not in touch?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, if I may use the phrase, I can assure the noble Lord that we are "in touch". When the noble Lord refers to "undue", I think it is largely a matter of opinion between one side and the other; but, as I have already said, so far there has been no representation in this matter.

LORD ERROLL OF HALE

My Lords, will the noble Lord undertake to put to the Regional Economic Planning Councils the concern which is felt about this matter in this House?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I will look into that, but the noble Lord, Lord Erroll of Hale, with all his experience, will recognise that the persons who have been appointed to these Regional Councils, and in particular the chairmen, are men of great responsibility; and while there may be this opinion in this House, if the Minister specifically referred to the points which have just been made it might appear that in fact we do not trust them to carry out their task. It is perfectly clear that these Councils are advisory, and I have no reason to believe that they have gone beyond that particular function.

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