HC Deb 01 December 1998 vol 321 c112W
Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will confer upon charter trustees and town councils the powers contained in section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 in respect to the conferring of honorary freedoms. [61833]

Mr. Raynsford

No. I am advised that for my right hon. Friend to extend the powers in section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 to include charter trustees and town councils would he unusual, unexpected and inappropriate. We have no plans for further legislation in this field.