§ Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in seeking staff savings, he will have regard to the organisation of the rent assessment panels whose staff are seconded from his Department.
§ Mr. StanleyMy right hon. Friend is examining the possibility of two mergers of panel area organisations. One would involve amalgamating the Surrey and Sussex rent assessment panel and the Kent rent assessment panel, and the other amalgamating the Thames Valley rent assessment panel and the Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire rent assessment panel. Before any decisions are taken we shall want to establish whether the quality of service to the public would be materially affected and whether overall public expenditure savings, as well as staff savings, would arise.