§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the terms of negotiated contracts concluded by new town development corporations are minuted for public inspection, in the same way as similar agreements, concluded by local authorities, are minuted.
§ Mr. NobleI do not think this would be appropriate. Local authorities, as locally elected bodies, are required by statute to make minutes of their proceedings available for inspection by local government electors. Development corporations operate under a different statutory system, without any corresponding local accountability.