LOCAL AUTHORITIES' POWERS (Hansard, 22 February 1949)

§ Mr. Bevan

The following is the statement desired.

Statement of powers which have been added to, and taken from, county councils, county boroughs, municipal boroughs, Metropolitan boroughs and district councils, respectively, by legislation passed in the present Parliament.

Powers added to county councils

Town and country planning.
Fire services.
Miscellaneous powers for prevention and treatment of illness.
Provision of entertainments.
Power to supply information and publicity with regard to local government services.
Provision for financial loss of members, and enlarged power to provide for their expenses.
In some areas, police.
In some areas, child life protection, maternity and child welfare, and midwifery services.

Powers taken from county councils

Provision of hospitals and maternity homes.
Relief of the poor except for provision of residential accommodation.

Powers added to county boroughs

Fire services.
Provision of entertainments.
Power to supply information and publicity with regard to local government services.
Provision of civic restaurants—wartime powers replaced by permanent legislation.
Powers in connection with rent control of furnished dwellings where Tribunals have been established—keeping registers of rents fixed, referring cases to tribunals, instituting proceedings for offences.
Provision for financial loss of members.

Powers taken from county boroughs

Provision of hospitals and maternity homes.
Relief of the poor, except for provision of residential accommodation.
In some areas, supply of electricity.
In some areas, supply of gas.

Powers added to municipal boroughs With the exception of fire services, these are the same as the powers added to county boroughs.

Powers taken from municipal boroughs

Town and country planning.
Miscellaneous powers for prevention and treatment of illness.
In some areas, child life protection, provision of maternity homes, maternity and child welfare and midwifery services.
Provision of ambulance services.
In some areas, police.
In some areas, supply of electricity and supply of gas.

Powers added to Metropolitan boroughs With the exception of fire services and civic restaurants, these are the same as those added to county boroughs.

Powers taken away from Metropolitan boroughs Miscellaneous powers for prevention and treatment of illness.

Powers added to district councils These are the same as those added to county boroughs, with the exception of fire services; and with the addition of power to pay an allowance to the chairman, and in rural districts of provision for travelling and subsistence expenses of members.

Powers taken from district councils

Town and country planning.
Miscellaneous powers for prevention and treatment of illness.
Provision of ambulance services.
In some areas (mainly urban districts) child life protection, provision of maternity homes, maternity and child welfare, and midwifery services.
In some areas (mainly urban districts) supply of electricity, and supply of gas.