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8
Government published a White Paper on Areas and Status of Local
Authorities in England and Wales. It was stated they were also considering
the question of some distribution of certain functions between the County
Councils and County District Councils. In May, 1957 the Government
issued a White Paper on the functions of County Councils and County
District Councils in England and Wales. In the main White Paper it was
said that it would be right that the larger borough and urban district
Councils, those with populations of 60,000 or more, should be entrusted
with the domiciliary and certain other health and welfare services (under
Part III of the National Health Service Act, 1946 and Part III of the
National Assistance Act, 1948)—education, employment of children,
classified roads and bridges thereon, town and country planning, shops,
theatres and cinemas, food and drugs, milk and dairies, libraries, weights
and measures, fertilizers and feeding stuffs, diseases of animals, licensing
of waste food boiling plants and smallholdings. In regard to whether
responsibility should be conferred outright or be delegated, the White
Paper said "the Government's conclusion is that the delegation method,
essential for some services, is the more appropriate generally. In their
opinion, however, the larger Boroughs and Urban Districts should have
an unquestioned right to exercise the powers to be delegated." The
White Paper pointed out that Middlesex presented its own difficulties.
It was proposed that "the two-tier structure should be retained throughout
Middlesex and no promotion to County Borough status should be made.
Clearly the larger Middlesex district councils, some of which are very
large indeed, should be entitled to exercise the responsibilities which it is
envisaged should normally be exercised for the rest of the country by
Boroughs and Urban Districts with a population of 60,000 or more."
Middlesex is to be considered with other authorities in Greater London,
the position being referred to a Royal Commission. This Commission
was appointed in November, 1957. A statement was submitted to the
Commission by the Council in June, and in September the Chairman of
the Commission and the Secretary visited the district.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient servant,
CARYL THOMAS,
Medical Officer of Health.
Council Offices,
Kynaston Court,
Harrow Weald.
25th May, 1959.