§ Mr. Robert BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responses he has received to the consultation paper on local government reorganisation, "Proposed Arrangements for 1994–95 Reorganisation Costs", issued to all local authorities on 2 December 1993; and what arrangements he has decided to adopt in relation to reorganisation costs to be incurred by authorities in 1994–95.
§ Mr. CurryThere have been some 40 responses to the consultation paper. We have carefully considered the responses, and have decided to confirm the proposals for 1994–95 with modifications. We shall issue to authorities supplementary credit approvals to enable them to borrow to meet specified reorganisation costs incurred in 1994–95, up to a limit. We shall determine the limit on the basis, inter alia, of information provided by the authorities concerned and the Government's public expenditure plans.
We have issued to authorities in the Isle of Wight and Cleveland notices requiring them to supply information about their reorganisation costs to be incurred in 1994–95. We intend, in the course of 1994–95, to issue further notices to any other authorities in respect on which reorganisation orders under section 17 of the Local Government Act 1992 are made that year. We do not expect reorganisation costs in 1994–95 to be significant for such authorities.