§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will publish the three-month reassessment of Best Value. [29904]
§ Dr. WhiteheadI refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May).
§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the review of Best Value will be completed; and for what reason the original deadline of 31 December 2001 was not met. [30215]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 25 January 2002]: I announced on 1 October 2001 a review of the Best Value regime for local authorities aimed at improving the quality of services. A review group, under the chairmanship of the Minister for Local Government, was set up to take this work forward. I asked the group to report by the end of 2001. In December 2001 the chair of the review group indicated that it had made good progress in a number of areas, but that it would like more time to consider carefully some significant proposals which had been put forward in mid December by members. I agreed to this and hope that the group can complete its work in the near future.