§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has reached conclusions in his consideration of the possibility of merging certain rent assessment panel areas.
§ Mr. StanleyYes. My right hon. Friend has decided to proceed with two such mergers. One will involve174W merging the Thames Valley and the Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire rent assessment panels, and the other merging the Kent and Surrey and Sussex rent assessment panels. Hearings will continue to be held locally as at present, and I am satisfied that the quality of service to the public will not be materially affected.