§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what areas of local government service or responsibility he considers should be reduced or eliminated; and what new or additional changes he considers could be increased in order to implement the current policy of public expenditure reduction.
§ Mr. KingMy right hon. Friends and I are giving careful consideration to the views of the local authority associations on the relaxation of statutory duties. We are also considering whether there are areas in which it would be appropriate to extend local authorities' powers to make charges. No decisions have yet been taken.