§ Mr. Welshasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what official studies or consultations have been undertaken on the rôle and structure of local government authorities in the context of plans for European Union by 1980.
(2) what consultation has taken place with the United Kingdom local government authorities with regard to Common Market plans for European Union by 1980.
§ Mr. John SilkinThere are no plans at present for European Union by 1980 or any other date; nor have the Government been in consultation with the local authority associations on this matter. However, a study of the concept of Euro-
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§ Mr. John SilkinFollowing is the available information, extracted from the Development Corporations' annual reports published under Section 46(7) of the New Towns Act 1965:
pean Union is being carried out for the EEC Heads of Government by Mr. Leo Tindemans, Prime Minister of Belgium. I understand he met Scottish local authority representatives in July.