Subsidiarity And Accountability

EDM number 132 in 1991-92, proposed by Dafydd Elis Thomas on 12/11/1991.

That this House welcomes the reference to the importance of the concepts of subsidiarity and accountability in the Prime Minister's speech at the Lord Mayor of London's Banquet on 11th November; notes that the notion of subsidiarity means decision-making at the level of government which is closest to the people; believes that subsidiarity and accountability are best expressed in the German system of Government; further notes that German 'communer' or 'community councils' have substantial powers and that the Lander are self-governing having their own parliaments with substantial policy-making and revenue-raising powers; believes that the Prime Minister should not pontificate about subsidiarity without applying it in an United Kingdom context; and calls on the Prime Minister to put subsidiarity and accountability into practice by enhancing the powers of community or parish councils, the creation of multi-purpose local authorities with teeth and the establishment of parliaments with legislative and revenue-raising powers in Scotland and Wales, parliaments which would be allowed direct representation within the European Community for matters devolved to them by the United Kingdom state, as part of their responsibilities.

This motion has been signed by a total of 3 MPs.