§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of the cost to(a) each of the local authorities in Cornwall and (b) the Council of the Isles of Scilly of meeting its obligation of monitoring, inspection, review and assessment by, for (i) the Audit Plan, (ii) the Audit Commission, (iii) the 264W Social Services Inspectorate, (iv) Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools, (v) Ofsted, (vi) the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate, (vii) Best Value, (viii) comprehensive performance assessments, (ix) the preparation of statutory plans/strategies and (x) other inspections and reviews. [176730]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not currently hold information on the cost to individual local authorities of meeting inspection and monitoring requirements. We are however committed to driving performance improvement and recognise the need to ensure that inspection and monitoring are coordinated, proportionate and responsive to improvement priorities of each council. We have already introduced a range of freedoms for councils linked to Comprehensive Performance Assessment. As a result 'excellent' councils have seen significant reductions in inspection activity and the removal of all service plan requirements beyond the Best Value Performance Plans and Community Strategy. All other categories of council will have seen a 75 per cent. reduction in the number of plans overall and around a 20 per cent. reduction in the number of days inspectors spent in councils compared to 2002–03. We are working with the Office for Public Sector Reform to build on this work and to develop an approach to assessing cost effectiveness and the benefits of inspection within local government.