§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the powers he has under public legislation to give directions to local authorities or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, giving in each case the legislative authority under which he may exercise these powers.
§ Mr. GoodladThere are many ministerial statutory powers in relation to local authorities in the United Kingdom. However, none of them, so far as I am aware, specifies that it is the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who is to exercise the power. As regards those powers expressed to be exercisable by "the Secretary of State", it would be most unusual for my right hon. Friend to be the appropriate Secretary of State to do so.