§ 2.46 p.m.
§ LORD LEATHERLANDMy 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 when the Maud Committee on personnel in local government is expected to report, or whether it is now not likely to report at all.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD KENNET)My Lords, the Report of the Maud Committee on Management in Local Government is expected within the next few months, and the Report of the Mallaby Committee on Staffing in Local Government will be available at about the same time. An Interim Report by the Maud Committee, dealing with allowances for elected representatives, has already reached my right honourable friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and will be published in three or four weeks' time.
§ LORD LEATHERLANDMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply, which I think will give general satisfaction. May I ask him whether his right honourable friend intends to absorb these two Reports into the general work of the new Local Government Commission which is to be appointed, or whether he intends to take independent action straight away or in the early future?
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, the Reports of the two Committees, the Maud and the Mallaby Committees, referred to in the original Question, will be available to the Royal Commission on Local Government, and we have no doubt that they will be of the greatest use to the Commission.