§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the archive services and the reorganisation of local government.
§ Mr. BaldryThis year my right hon. Friend has received some 50 written representations from organisations and individuals who wish to see the existing level of local authority archive services maintained following reorganisation. My hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry) met the chairman and secretary of the Royal Commission for Historical Manuscripts on 24 February.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statutory safeguards he proposes to introduce to ensure that archive services are not adversely affected by the reorganisation of local government.
§ Mr. BaldryThe Local Government Commission's recommendations must enable adequate provision to be made for all existing local government functions, including archives. Collaborative arrangements between unitary authorities may be desirable in some cases. The Government's preference is for such arrangements to be on a voluntary basis, but section 21 of the Local Government Act 1992 gives my right hon. Friend powers to establish a joint authority for any local government function if he considers that satisfactory voluntary arrangements have not been made or have broken down.