HL Deb 23 July 1970 vol 311 cc1061-2
LORD OGMORE

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 what proposals they intend to make for the reform of local government in Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY LORD ABERDARE)

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government do not intend to make proposals for local government reorganisation in Glamorgan and Monmouthshire until they have reviewed very carefully the proposals of the previous Administration.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he will be very careful about following the proposals in the White Paper (Cmnd. 4310) issued by the previous Administration? May I also ask whether he is aware that the overwhelming opinion in Wales is against the proposals by the late Government in that White Paper?

LORD ABERDARE

Yes, my Lords. We are well aware of the strong opposition to the previous proposals and we shall take great care to see that they are carefully reviewed.

LORD HEYCOCK

My Lords, I am rather disappointed with the Answer which has been given. Will the noble Lord tell me what effect the Constitutional Commission is going to have on the future reorganisation of local government in Wales?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, we are well aware of the interconnection between the Crowther Commission and local government reorganisation. However, I would point out to the noble Lord that the terms of reference of the Commission are directed primarily at the present functions of the central Legislature and the Government.

LORD HEYCOCK

My Lords, may I ask how long it is estimated it will take the Government to deliberate on the future reorganisation, because, from the point of view of Glamorgan, there is great anxiety in the minds of members?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, the noble Lord will realise that I understand the anxieties, and we shall come to a conclusion as quickly as we can. But the noble Lord will also be the first to recognise that there have been so many reconsiderations of this particular problem that it is important that we should now arrive at a final solution.

LORD MERTHYR

My Lords, when Her Majesty's Government have arrived at the final conclusion, will they apply it to the whole of England and Wales, if not to Scotland, instead of applying different systems to different parts of the country?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, that goes rather wide of the original Question, but I am sure that the noble Lord's views will be taken into account.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord not to take them into account? When the late Government took them into account they got into such a mess in Cmnd. 4310.