§ 61. Mr. E. Fletcherasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the constitution of the committee appointed by him to consider the distribution of functions between central and local government authorities; what are their terms of reference; when their report is expected; and whether it will be made public.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallThe terms of reference of the Local Government Manpower Committee are as follows
34WTo review and co-ordinate the existing arrangements for ensuring economy in the use of manpower by local authorities and by those Government Departments which are concerned with local government matters; and to examine in particular the distribution of functions between central and local government and the possibility of relaxing departmental supervision of local authority activities and delegating more responsibility to local authorities.The Committee is a joint body, under Treasury chairmanship, composed of representatives of the Departments principally concerned with local government affairs, together with one or two others which have experience of decentralised administration, of the Local Authorities' Associations and of the L.C.C. The immediate task of the Committee is to put in hand an examination of the several fields of departmental administration on the lines indicated in the second part of the terms of reference, and for this purpose it will work through Sub-Committees convened by the Department concerned. The Committee will, where necessary, make recommendations to the Government for action to be taken, but it is not intended that it should draw up a formal report for publication. The Committee includes a member of the Organisation and Methods Division of the Treasury, which is already closely in touch with the British Institute of Management and the Institute of Public Administration, and O. and M. Staff will be associated with the work of all the Sub-Committees.