HC Deb 02 April 1996 vol 275 cc209-10W
Mr. John Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what machinery is available to consider current complaints involving county council social services when those councils are abolished on 31 March. [24293]

Mr. Gwilym Jones

Under section 53 of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, responsibility for dealing with the complaint transfers to the new authority or authorities for the area to which the complaint relates.

The section ensures that the new authorities inherit the implications of any decisions taken by the old authorities—anything done by an old authority shall be deemed to have been done by the new authority for its continuing effect.