§ 27. Mr. Bill WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the Government's proposed time scale for introducing local government reform.
§ Mr. StewartWe intend to announce our decisions on the future structure of local government in Scotland in a White Paper before the summer recess. Thereafter, subject to the necessary legislation being put in place, elections to shadow authorities will take place in spring 1995, with new authorities assuming full control on 1 April 1996.
§ 30. Sir Nicholas FairbairnTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a further statement on the reform of Scottish local government.
§ Mr. StewartMore than 3,300 responses to the consultation exercise on local government reform were received from a wide range of organisations and individuals. These are currently being analysed and we intend to announce our decisions on the future structure of local government in Scotland in a White Paper before the summer recess.
§ 38. Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the cost of local government reorganisation.
§ Mr. StewartA move to a single-tier structure will give rise to transitional costs which should be quickly recovered by annual savings. An indication of the likely financial consequences of reform will be included in a White Paper on our restructuring proposals which we intend to publish before the summer recess.
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§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to hold discussions regarding the cost of the reform of the Scottish local government system prior to the publication of the White Paper on this subject.
§ Mr. StewartMy right hon. Friend will be consulting colleagues in the usual way before publishing his proposals for the reform of local government in Scotland.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his oral answer of 31 March,Official Report, column 349, on the cost of local Government reform, if he will hold discussions on the costs of reform with existing local authorities.
§ Mr. StewartMy officials have already held useful discussions on the costs of reform with local authority representatives on the working party on local government finance. I have no plans at present to hold further discussions on the issue.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the names and qualifications of financial and management consultancies he intends to use to help the Scottish Office formulate the financial data required to produce a White Paper on Scottish local government reform;
(2) what plans he has to invite Touche Ross to tender for further work with the Scottish Office in connection with the reform of the local Government system in Scotland.
§ Mr. StewartThe Scottish Office has no plans at present to commission further work from any consultants in connection with local government reform.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy, before publication of the White Paper on the reform of local Government in Scotland, to have discussions with representatives of industry and commerce in Scotland.
§ Mr. StewartMy colleagues and I meet regularly with representatives of industry and commerce in Scotland to discuss a range of current issues, including local government reform. Our consultation paper on local government reform generated about 220 responses from commercial and industrial organisations and these will be taken fully into account before decisions are reached on the new structure.