Mr. Moreasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will take steps to refund to boroughs and local district councils the costs of their legal representation at inquiries under the Local Government Act, 1958, in connection with local government reorganisation.
243W
Sir K. JosephNo. Legal representation is entirely at the discretion of the local authority concerned and is not in my view essential. Where costs are properly incurred, however, they will rank in the normal way for rate deficiency grant.