§ 17. Helen JacksonTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the better government for older people programme. [68660]
§ Dr. Jack CunninghamThe Better Government for Older People initiative, an important part of our commitment to modernising government, has valuable lessons to teach about developing improved services that are more responsive to the needs of their users. Next month we are putting in place a Learning Network so that many more local authorities across the UK can share in this learning and experience. Well over two hundred authorities have already expressed an interest in joining the Network.
§ 21. Ms MoranTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what measures he intends to take to encourage local authorities to become involved in the better government initiative. [68665]
§ Dr. Jack CunninghamLocal Government is a key partner in the drive to improve public service effectiveness and responsiveness and is involved at all levels in the production of the Modernising Government White Paper. For example, Sir Jeremy Beecham, Chairman of the Local Government Association attends meetings of the Ministerial Group on Better Government. I welcome a wide debate on these matters and I recently launched the Modernising Government discussion forum on the Downing Street website, to encourage people to participate in the consultation process.
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