§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his current estimate of the cost of the local government reforms in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [45008]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsEstimates of the costs of my proposals for modernising local government in Wales are not yet available. I am currently in the process of consulting on the proposals. The closing date for comments on the final two consultation papers—Improving Services Through Best Value and the New Ethical Framework—is 12 June. While there may be additional costs, these would need to be set against the savings resulting from the more efficient and effective operation of local government.