Devolution (Scotland and Wales)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 13 January 1976.

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Photo of Mr Joseph Dean Mr Joseph Dean , Leeds West 12:00, 13 January 1976

It is regrettable that devolution to Scotland and Wales is being considered as an issue separate from devolution for England, because we all know that the infrastructures are inter-linked.

I hope that when Ministers prepare to place proposals before the House for devolution in the English regions, they will undertake full consultation downwards. Such consultations with grassroots opinion have not yet occurred.

I wish to make a special plea on behalf of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities which represents more than 21 million people, a figure five times the population of Scotland and six times the population of Wales. That Association is Labour-controlled and represents stress areas in England. I believe that if a document is brought before the House without the fullest consultation with people who spend their lives making local government work, we shall be doomed to failure in the presentation of the propo- sals. I hope that the Government will be able to assure the House that those consultations will take place.