asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give an estimate of the cost of implementing the Government programme for reform of local government and the time scale for implementation.
161.
Written Answers. - Local Government Reform.
160.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give an estimate of the cost of implementing each proposal for the devolution of functions to local authorities; and if he will give a time scale for implementation in each case.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 161 together.
The Government's programme for local government reform, as outlined in the policy statement which was published on 30 May 1985, is designed to be implemented within the aggregate level of taxation stipulated in the National Plan Building on Reality
The Principle financial effect of the devolution measures will be to shift resources from the centre to local level, in line with the particular arrangements in each case. In the medium and longer terms the programme is expected to lead to savings in operational costs as a result of making services more accessible and curtailing delays and duplication. Any additional transitional or operational costs which may arise for local authorities initially will not be significant in the context of their overall operational costs and will be expected to be matched by compensating savings and redeployment. As indicated in the policy statement it is an integral part of the reform programme that efficiency and value-for-money will be promoted in local government.
It is not possible at this stage to estimate reliably the additional operational costs that may arise from the reorganisation of the local government system or to differentiate in this respect the costs of structural changes from the unavoidable costs of expanding services in line with population growth. Here too there will be emphasis on compensating economies so that any additional to net operational costs will be kept to a minimum.
Implementation of the reform programme is already under way, mainly through the Local Government (Reorganisation) Act, 1985. Further legislation will be published before the end of 1985. It is the intention that the programme as a whole, including the devolution measures, will be completed, or fully on the way to completion, in the lifetime of this Government.