Local Government Reform

HC Deb 01 March 1971 vol 812 cc373-4W

Mr. Russell Johnston

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement setting out his reasons for the allocation of sewage disposal to the Second Tier Authority announced in his White Paper on Local Government Reform in Scotland, Command Paper No. 4583.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Sewerage is to be a regional function, as the Royal Commission recommended. As regards refuse disposal, there are arguments, well summarised by the Commission, for allocating this function to the larger authorities, but administrative difficulties and wasteful expenditure could arise if it were separated from refuse collection, and the district authorities should have sufficient resources to enable them to dispose of refuse as well as to collect it. I have therefore concluded that both should be district functions.