Local Government

Part of Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) (No. 3) Bill – in the House of Commons at 3:44 pm on 15 October 2008.

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Photo of John Healey John Healey Minister of State (Department of Communities and Local Government) (Local Government) 3:44, 15 October 2008

I hope that we will have something of a debate, as well as a discussion, but the hon. Gentleman is right. We see throughout the country that local authorities and parts of the health service, particularly go-ahead primary care trusts, are looking to create a joint budget and to joint-plan and joint-manage the sort of services that people need. In the end, people need the services that they need; they do not much care about which agency is responsible for delivering them. That institutional divide should not be apparent to them, and we should make every effort to reduce it further.