§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations his Department has received about direct labour organisations; and how many of these representations came from Greater Manchester.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergSince the Government introduced legislation on direct labour as part III of the Local Government, Planning and Land Bill the Department has been receiving a continuous flow of representations on this and other provisions of the Bill. Greater Manchester council wrote in February, expressing support in principle 541W for the legislation's objectives of increasing DLO efficiency and competitiveness.
Greater Manchester's own Bill now before the House includes a provision which would extend the scope of activity of Manchester city's direct works department. A petition has been presented to the House praying against this clause, and the Department has received five representations against it from various bodies and individuals. I agree with them that the provision is unnecessary and undesirable.