HC Deb 06 December 1978 vol 959 cc674-5W
30. Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which district councils he considers too small to assume responsibility for services at present carried out by county councils.

Mr. Shore

That depends on the service in question. I propose to extend the planning responsibilities of all districts in relation to development control. The criteria for the transfer of the other functions are to be the subject of consultation; it has, however, been decided that for education consideration should be limited to the nine major non-metropolitan cities, and for personal social services to those districts with a population of over 100,000.