HC Deb 30 March 1979 vol 965 cc368-9W
Mr. Michael Morris

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many circulars his Department has issued to local authorities (a) in England and (b) in England and Wales in each year since 1974; and how many issued instructions increasing the statutory duties of local authorities.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Apart from circulars relating exclusively to police, fire and other specialised services, the number of circulars addressed to the chief executives of local authorities, in the normally accepted sense, by the Home Office during each year since 1974 is as follows:

England England and Wales
1975 12 44
1976 19 39
1977 20 53
1978 22 50
1979 (to date) 7 13

I regret that an answer to the second part of the question could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.