§ Lord BROWNasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many elected members of:
there are now in England and Wales and in Scotland, and (if possible) how many there will be after the forthcoming reorganisation of local government.
- (a) County councils;
- (b) Borough councils;
- (c) Urban and rural district councils;
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (LORD SANDFORD)The numbers of elected members of local authorities in England and Wales and Scotland and the estimated numbers of members of the proposed new authorities after reorganisation are as follows:
1202WA
ENGLAND AND WALES Elected Members Existing Authorities (1971) Counties … 4,880 County Boroughs … 3,780 Non-County Boroughs … 4,520 Districts … 20,900 Total … 34,080
Proposed New Authorities Counties and Metropolitan Counties. 4,400 Districts and Metropolitan Districts. 18,000 Total 22,400
SCOTLAND Elected Members Existing Authorities (1971) Town Councils … 2,500 County Councils (Landward) … 950 Total … 3,450
Proposed New Authorities (Present Proposals) 8 Regional Authorities … 415 3 Most Purpose Authorities … 75 47 Districts … 1,060 Total … 1,550 Notes
1. The estimates for the proposed new authorities are necessarily tentative.
2. In Scotland the figure for existing county councils excludes some 750 members appointed by burghs to speak and vote on matters for which the county council is responsible within the burghs. Also existing district councils are omitted: their powers are analogous to those of parish councils in England and Wales.
House adjourned at sixteen minutes before seven o'clock.