HC Deb 17 December 1953 vol 522 cc107-8W
Sir W. Darling

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that in England and Wales there is one local authority for every 3,417 citizens and in Scotland one local authority for every 11,962; and what plans are under consideration for increasing the representation of the people in local government in Scotland.

Mr. J. Stuart

The comparison made in the question takes no account of differences between the local government structure in the two countries, of the nature of the authorities concerned, of the extent to which more than one authority covers the same area, or of the numbers of councillors. In any event, I do not think arithmetical comparisons of this kind are in themselves an argument for any change in the local government system.