HC Deb 04 February 1976 vol 904 cc644-5W
56. Dr. Edmund Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to amend the Local Government Act 1972 to reduce the number of functions which are assigned concurrently to county and district councils.

Mr. John Silkin

The powers available to both county and district councils are permissive ones limited mainly to recreational and cultural fields. Their exercise depends on local discretion and consultation between authorities, and their number has not changed significantly from those available before reorganisation. I would be reluctant to make such changes so soon after the 1972 Act has come into force.