§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the costs of local government reorganisation would be distributed if an elected regional assembly is established in(a) the North West, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) the North East. [155137]
§ Mr. RaynsfordIt is too early to say what the costs and savings of any reorganisation will be since these will depend ultimately on the pattern of unitary authorities introduced and on the decisions that the new unitary authorities take about how to discharge their functions. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be discussing how any costs will be funded with local government.