§ 25. Mr. HopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions how many responses he has received to the local government White Paper; and if he will make a statement. [54351]
§ Ms ArmstrongThe White Paper 'Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People' was born out of a wide-ranging consultation exercise—centred on 6 papers, which prompted some 2,500 responses. As a statement of our firm plans, the White Paper does not invite specific responses but has been widely welcomed, by the Local Government Association amongst others, as an agenda for radical reform bringing councils closer to the people.