§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is his intention to treat Cumbria as part of the North-West region in respect of all the functions for which his Department is responsible; and what implications the arrangements will have for regional sports councils.
§ Mr. Monroas my right hon. Friend announced in his reply to the hon. Member for North Fylde (Sir W. Clegg), on 17 December, we have accepted the Rayner scrutiny report recommendation that responsibility for all matters in Cumbria dealt with by the joint DOE/DTp regional office should be transferred from Newcastle to Manchester.—[Vol. 996, c. 306-7.] The regional councils for sport and recreation are, however, independent bodies, and am not yet persuaded that any change in their416W boundaries is necessary. I have consulted the chairmen of the Northern and North-West CSRs and am awaiting their reaction.