DECENTRALISATION, DEVOLUTION AND PARTICIPATION

HC Deb 27 November 1968 vol 774 cc118-9W

51. Mr. Gordon Campbell

asked the Paymaster General what steps she is taking in furtherance of her responsibilities in relation to devolution.

52. Mr. Barnes

asked the Paymaster General what plans she has for encouraging greater public participation in Government.

53. Mr. Marten

asked the Paymaster General if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on decentralisation, devolution and participation.

Mrs. Hart

Decentralisation, devolution and increased participation are related themes, which it is important to consider in the working out of a whole range of Government policies. These themes are relevant at present to the arrangements for the proposed Constitutional Commission, to the examination of the report of the Royal Commission on Local Government when it is received and to the work of the Civil Service Department on dispersal and on the machinery of Government.

Other recent examples of their application to our policies are the further measures of devolution to Scotland and Wales announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in the debate on the Address; the structure of the proposed statutory boards for the promotion of tourism; and the proposal to extend the right to vote to those aged 18 to 21.