Clause 2
Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill
10:45 am
Tom Levitt (PPS (Rt Hon Hilary Benn, Secretary of State), Department for International Development; High Peak, Labour)
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for making it clear that another wholesale round of structural change—indeed, another window for invitations—is not intended. He has now said that on the record and can be quoted. That statement will be welcomed, particularly in Derbyshire, where there is a two-tier system, which we believe works and can work even better. All the district councils in the county have agreements to make it work better. Does he agree that that process is healthy and indicates the healthy environment in which the debate about restructuring has gone on over the last few months, in contrast to the enforced but failed move to unitary status under the Banham procedure that the previous Government attempted several years ago?