Some latest gems from the Standing Committee.

Dr. Howells: Is the hon. Gentleman saying that the further we go from London into the sticks, the thicker the councillors are?

Mr. Turner: I accept that challenge, because it is sensible. I was talking about metropolitan areas, because I accept that near Newcastle, for example, there may be areas that are fairly metropolitan and influenced by metropolitan good practice.

Jim Knight (South Dorset): Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Mr. Turner: Wait a moment, or I will forget what I wanted to say.

We find a tendency in some areas for people to be a bit more lax about the details of legislation. For example, morris dancing is not licensed in my authority area.

Mr. Jones: It should be.

Mr. Turner: My local councillors and officers have adopted a sensible and sane approach by not bothering about every detail of the legislation concernedbut I would not recommend that, because they should ensure that legislation is applied properly.

I shall now give way to the hon. Member for South Dorset (Jim Knight).

Jim Knight: I think that the hon. Gentleman is digging well enough on his own.
own.

Any members of (currently illegal) Morris sides in Mr Jones's Durham constituency wish to vote for him?