PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
SUBSIDIARITY WITHIN THE UNITED KINGDOM (21 October 1992)

That this House notes that the Prime Minister claims to have spent the recess pursuing the principle of subsidiarity as 'the principle of decentralising power from Brussels to the member state'; notes with interest that the Secretary of State for Education has defended Conservative chaos in the education system by claiming that to put decisions in the hands of school governors is a prime example of subsidiarity in practice, while ignoring that his main policy is to centralise powers over education in his own hands; calls on the media to use the correct definition of subsidiarity as 'the principle whereby all decisions are taken at the most local level consistent with efficient administration'; and calls on the Prime Minister to adopt that principle within the United Kingdom so that decisions at a local and regional level can be taken by accountable bodies which reflect the needs and aspirations of their electors.

Sponsored by:
Alun Michael (Labour)