§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he proposes to set up a committee to make recommendations for the organisation and management of the new local authorities along the lines of the Paterson committee in the previous reorganisation.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 20 October 1993]: Much of the advice contained in the Paterson report continues to serve local government well today. The Government have already made it clear in their White Paper, "Shaping the Future—The New Councils" that it is not proposed to make provision in legislation for alternative forms of local government organisation and management to replace the existing committee-based system which was endorsed by the Paterson committee. It was agreed, however, in discussions of the joint Scottish Office/Convention of Scottish Local Authorities steering group and working group, which was established last year to consider internal management issues, that there was scope for guidance on possible developments in management structures within this basic statutory framework, and that this might best be taken forward from within local government itself.