§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that local authorities are having difficulty in recruiting staff, due to the uncertainty of their future, arising from the publication of the recent White Paper dealing with the Review of Local Government; and if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards this White Paper.
§ Mr. RossI have no evidence that discussion of local government reorganisation is having an adverse effect on recruitment.28W The Government are not committed to the White Paper published in June, 1963, or to any conclusions of the working party that is studying the subject. When further progress has been made with our review of local government finance, I will look afresh at the question of reorganisation in the light of all relevant factors.