§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total cost of local government reorganisation in Wales on the latest date for which information is available; how much has been spent on redundancy payments; how many newly appointed chief executives have taken early retirement less than one year after the reorganisation; and if he will make a statement. [14590]
§ Mr. HagueThe total cost of local government reorganisation is not available centrally. However, up to and including the current financial year, £87.5 million has been made available to local authorities as a contribution to reorganisation-related costs. A further £17.9 million will be available in 1997–98. Of the total available to support reorganisation, £28.3 million has been earmarked for related redundancy costs, of which £19.3 million has been spent. A further £10.1 million will be made available in 1997–98.
To date, no newly appointed chief executive has taken early retirement.