Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture. – in the House of Commons at on 14 December 1939.
Mr Herbert Williams
, Croydon South
asked the Minister of Health whether, with a view to the proper control of local government, he will request local authorities to resume regular meetings of the whole council in all those cases where full authority has been delegated to an emergency committee?
Mr Walter Elliot
, Glasgow Kelvingrove
Emergency arrangements made on the outbreak of war will doubtless be kept under review by local authorities, in the light of conditions obtaining, but the matter is primarily one for the authorities themselves to determine and I do not think I can with advantage adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.
Mr Herbert Williams
, Croydon South
Is my right hon. Friend aware that in various parts of the country there is great indignation at the conduct of little Hitlers and Stalins who have installed themselves on local authorities and who deprive their colleagues of the opportunities of exercising those duties which they are capable of performing?
Mr Walter Elliot
, Glasgow Kelvingrove
The proper remedy for that rests with the people themselves to make their views known to their local representatives.
Mr Charles Williams
, Torquay
May I ask my right hon. Friend why, if the House of Commons sits regularly, the local authorities do not, especially the more reactionary ones like the London County Council?
Mr Walter Elliot
, Glasgow Kelvingrove
No doubt, the example of the House of Commons will, in this as in other matters, be an example to the rest of the country.
Mr William Thorne
, West Ham Plaistow
Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the London County Council are now restored to the ordinary meetings?
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