§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Lord President of the Council if Scotland will be represented by the Minister responsible for local government in the Scottish Assembly, or whether it is his intention that this duty be reserved for the Secretary of State for Scotland.
§ Mr. Edward ShortThe responsibilities proposed for the Scottish Assembly in relation to local government are set out in paragraphs 119–121 of Cmnd. 6348. The effect will be that the Scottish Executive will become responsible to the Assembly for the powers presently vested in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to oversee the work of local authorities in devolved matters, to allocate rate support grant to them, to control their capital investment in the devolved fields, and to apply the local taxation system. The general oversight powers to be devolved include responsibility for the allocation of devolved functions among local authorities, for deciding the structure of local government and for settling administrative and electoral areas and boundaries.