§ Mr. Goughasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when it is proposed to establish the Commission for the New Towns; and what arrangements will be made in regard to staff employed by development corporations.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI expect that the main work of the Crawley Development Corporation to be completed by the spring 167W of 1961, and that of the Hemel Hemp-stead Development Corporation by the spring of the following year. It would in my view be convenient if the Commission were established in the latter part of 1961, with the object of taking over responsibility for these two towns, which will be the first to be ready, early in 1962.
The Commission will have to employ staff in the new towns to discharge their estate management, housing management and other continuing local responsibilities. While it must be for the Commission themselves to decide what staff is required, I am clear that they will wish to retain those who are, at the time of transfer, employed by the development corporations on work which must continue under the Commission. This will cover many of the staff still in employment; but there will be some who will no longer be needed. Their circumstances will vary according to their age and pension position. Proposals about the basis for dealing with any specially difficult cases will be put to the New Town Whitley Council for discussion.