§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Cabinet governance in(a) Teeside area and (b) local authorities across the country; and if he will make a statement. [126493]
§ Ms Beverley HughesWe have made no general assessment of initiatives individual councils are currently pursuing. These initiatives are being carried out under the existing legislative framework which is not designed for cabinet governance. The Local Government Bill[Lords] provides a framework tailor made for executive arrangements, including cabinet governance and directly elected mayors. There is considerable international experience of the benefits that these forms of governance can bring, particularly of the benefits directly elected mayors can bring for their local communities.