First published in 1966, the original blurb reads: "For centuries, the Englishman has liked to govern his affairs through local bodies. The desire for higher standards of living has driven him, however, to look to the national government to an increasing extent, with the result that central departments and local authorities have had to develop new relationships. Much has been written about the formal aspects of these relationships, but very little about the day-to-day working arrangements they involve. It is on these that this book sheds new light. The book examines central-local relations in detail in six major services: primary and secondary school building, highways, housing, town and country planning, the care of children, and health and welfare. It shows how central departments display many different attitudes to local government, attitudes which stem from different fundamental notions of the relations between the centre and the localities. They ultimately determine how much control, influence or persuasion the department will bring to bear on a local authority. But Professor Griffith is not content with merely describing the existing pattern.

He analyses its defects - inadequate definition of policy, the smallness of many local authorities, financial dependence on the central government, and lack of information - and recommends measures which will lead to greater efficiency in the administration of local services. A distinguished Advisory Committee, under the chairmanship of Sir Charles Morris, K.C.M.G., a member of the Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London, were associated with this project, which was sponsored by the Royal Institute of Public Administration.".