Local Government Reorganisation: Costs

HL Deb 01 November 1995 vol 566 cc167-8WA

Lord Rix

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether people with learning disabilities and their families will have to meet, in reduced services or increased charges, any set-up or continuing revenue costs of local government reorganisation.

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers)

Local government reorganisation will give local authorities an opportunity to streamline their organisations and reduced overheads. If authorities respond positively to this challenge there should be no need for either reduced services or increased charges. The arrangements we have introduced for transitional costs of reorganisation will enable authorities to meet transitional costs from borrowing and give them time to realise offsetting savings.