§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his oral statement of 2 March on the explicit promises made by county and district councils about improved co-operation and delegation of functions, if he expects such promises to involved more or less local government expenditure; and what account he will take of such promises in future local government finance settlements.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesWe would expect better co-operation and delegation to enable local services to be improved at no extra cost.