§ Lord Evans of Claughtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will indicate to which bodies the powers of the metropolitan county councils will be entrusted after 31st March 1986 if legislation to transfer their functions to other bodies is not approved in Parliament after the 1985 elections have been cancelled.
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Bellwin)The powers would remain with the metropolitan county councils. The legislation to cancel the 1985 elections will not abolish these councils, but it will provide for their membership to consist of councillors appointed by the district councils. Provision will also be made for the reinstatement of direct elections to the county councils if Parliament should reject the Government's subsequent legislation to abolish these councils.