HC Deb 13 December 1999 vol 341 c69W
Mr. Waterson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish draft regulations on each of the matters for which powers to make regulations will be conferred on him under the Local Government Bill [Lords]. [102089]

Ms Beverley Hughes

My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions indicated during the Second Reading of the Local Government Bill in another place that, as our response to the report of the Joint Committee indicates, draft regulations concerned with executive functions, policy framework and petitions will be available in time for Committee stage in the upper House. Draft of other regulations and key statutory guidance will be produced during the passage of the Bill.

The Government's response to the Joint Committee's report on the draft Local Government (Organisation and Standards) Bill (Cm 4529), which preceded the current legislation, was published on 2 December and has been placed in the Library.

Mr. Waterson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish a regulatory impact assessment in respect of the Local Government Bill [Lords]. [101951]

Ms Beverley Hughes

The Explanatory Notes to the Local Government Bill, which were published along with the Bill on 26 November, make it clear that none of the measures under Parts I-IV of the Bill will impose any burden on business, charities or voluntary bodies.

The provisions on welfare services in Part V will not in themselves impose any direct burden on such organisations, but the new arrangements for funding support services that the Government intend to implement through the new provisions will have implications for service providers. Elements of the new arrangements to scrutinise value for money more closely and which will separate the funding of accommodation and support services to improve service flexibility may involve additional management and administration for some service providers. This will be a factor that will need to be taken into account both locally and centrally.

A copy of the Regulatory Impact Assessment is available from my Department.