§ Mr. Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will list the statutory powers, and other means available to him, to control or influence the number of people employed by, and the wage and salary bill of, local authorities or other public sector bodies not part of central government.
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§ Mr. John FraserI understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is replying as regards local authorities. I exercise statutory control under the Acts shown below in respect of certain bodies concerned with consumers' interests; as regards other bodies with which I am concerned there is consultation of a formal or informal nature, often in the course of discussion on financial estimates.