asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to give local councillors at least a minimal degree of secretarial and postal facilities; and, if so, when.

The introduction of a scheme to provide secretarial and postal facilities for members of local authorities would require amending legislation. I have no proposals at present for the introduction of such legislation.

Does not the Minister consider it extraordinary that people who have been publicly elected and have a mandate have not even the minimum facilities to do their jobs? Will he not accept that in common justice local councillors should at least be entitled to some degree of postal facilities to enable them to do their jobs in a responsible fashion? What is the Minister's personal view?

Representations were made to my predecessor on this matter, and the Bill on local government re-organisation which was in course of preparation when he left office did not include any provision for this. I would add that these matters will be examined in the context of the preparation of any legislation which I will be introducing.

So the Minister will examine it?

I said so.