§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the powers to be provided for the local government and Parliamentry Commissioners to investigate complaints against the Commission for the New Towns and the New Towns Corporation.
§ Mr. John PattenAs foreshadowed in paragraph 11 of its White Paper (Cmnd. 9563, July 1985), the Government are currently seeking powers, through the Parliamentary and Health Service Commissioners Bill, to extend the general jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration to the Commission for the New Towns and new town development corporations, with the exception of their housing functions which will be a matter for the Commission for Local Administration. Separate powers to give effect to this extention of their jurisdiction will be introduced when an appropriate opportunity arises.