To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent progress has been made on the National Improvement and Efficiency Strategy.

The National Improvement and Efficiency Strategy was produced to support councils, as leaders of place, working with their local partners to deliver better outcomes, improve the quality of life in places and provide better public services. It commits urban and local governments and making it easier for councils and their partners to access the right support at the right time.

Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships have been successfully launched and their 1st Annual Reports highlight around £100 million of efficiency savings in their first year and significant support to improve performance. They increasingly are providing councils with the mechanism to have a simply conversion for regional improvements needs in their locality.

In the 'Prospectus 2008: the guide to improvement and efficiency support' we set out a comprehensive picture of the support which central and local government are providing to local partners. This document provides a valuable practical tool to help make this happens.