§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many circulars his Department has issued to local authorities (a) in England and (b) in England and Wales in each year since 1974; and how many issued instructions increasing the statutory duties of local authorities.
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§ Mr. Merlyn ReesApart from circulars relating exclusively to police, fire and other specialised services, the number of circulars addressed to the chief executives of local authorities, in the normally accepted sense, by the Home Office during each year since 1974 is as follows:
England England and Wales 1975 12 44 1976 19 39 1977 20 53 1978 22 50 1979 (to date) 7 13 I regret that an answer to the second part of the question could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.