§ 19. Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest estimate of the cost of the proposed local government reform in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe measures in the Local Government (Wales) Bill will result in transitional costs estimated on the basis of a report prepared by consultants to be between £65 million and £150 million over 15 years. Those will be offset from April 1996 by continuing savings in public expenditure. The precise level of those will depend on decisions to be taken by the new councils on such matters as staffing levels and management structures.