§ 30. Mr. Longdenasked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning if he will publish a comparison of the estimated cost of local government in England on the basis of its reorganisation in accordance with the proposals of the Redcliffe-Maud Commission with the actual cost of local government as at present organised.
§ Mr. CroslandNo such estimate can possibly be made. The cost of local government depends basically on the cost of the service which it provides. But most people believe that a major reorganisation, designed to produce greater efficiency and better value for money, is now overdue.