Written evidence to be reported to the House
Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill
2:16 pm
Q150Patrick Hall (Bedford) (Lab): I want to give the Minister an opportunity to be clear about the discussion that we have just had about the understandable caution that we need to apply regarding alleged savings—the issues that came out of questioning from Alistair Burt.
Presumably, the Minister would be prepared to consider the possibility that savings may be obtained if a council can demonstrate that clearly. I know of one bid that claims that the council concerned can meet quite a few of the costs from reserves. It is self-financing not only in terms of long-term revenue savings, but up front from reserves. That is a point that must be considered. Is it not also the case that it is not just a question of justifying possible unitary bids in terms of immediate or longer-term savings but of making more effective use of what money there is? That is what local government should be about too.