§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had on the effect of local government reorganisation on the funding of arts, museums and libraries by local authorities.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesThe Local Government Commission consults bodies connected with the arts, museums and library services before making recommendations for the structure of local government. We allow time to receive and consider representations from interested parties on those recommendations before taking decisions on them. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage is consulting representatives of the local authority associations and expert bodies in these fields with a view to issuing guidance, where necessary, to new authorities.