§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has recently given to local authorities about direct labour.
§ Mr. FreesonThe Department wrote recently to authorities covered by the transitional orders under the Local Government Act 1972. These authorities were advised that they could not make fresh agreements after the expiry of the orders, that they were able to carry on with work covered by agreements entered into before then, and that the Government proposed to legislate to restore the powers.