HL Deb 18 March 1970 vol 308 cc1228-30WA
THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (1) Which Department is responsible for chairing and servicing the Inter-Departmental Working Group on MIDAS;
  2. (2) Which Departments and other bodies are represented on it;
  3. (3) What are its present terms of reference.

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD KENNET)

The responsibility for directing and servicing the Inter-Departmental Working Group on MIDAS has now passed to officials reporting to the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning. As to sections 2 and 3 of the noble Lord's Question, I regret that it is not the practice to specify the functions and membership of individual Committees or Working Groups in the degree of detail for which the noble Earl is asking.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (1) How often the Inter-Departmental Working Group on MIDAS met in its old form) between April, 1968, and July, 1969;
  2. (2) How often it met (in its present form) between July and December, 1969;
  3. (3) The date when it recommended commissioning Professor Peston's feasibility study brief for a cost/ benefit study;
  4. (4) The date when Professor Peston"s report was received.

LORD KENNET

I regret that it is hot the practice to give information about the Government's internal arrangements for the discussion of public business in the degree of detail for which the noble Earl is asking.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Inter-Departmental Working Group on MIDAS have examined the authors of the Halcrow Report face-to-face.

LORD KENNET

It is not the practice to give information about the Government's internal arrangements for the discussion of public business in the degree of detail for which the noble Earl is asking.