§ Mr. Merlyn Reesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the enactments which empower him to set up a public inquiry into local authorities against some of whose members allegations are made.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe powers which I have to hold inquiries into local authority matters are all designed either to assist me in exercising one of my specific statutory functions, such as giving a consent or approval, or to enable me to review the situation where a local authority appear to have failed to discharge their own statutory functions. I have no powers to inquire specifically into allegations against individual members or officers. If such allegations are made, it would be for the local authority concerned to take whatever action they thought necessary.