Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Stunell and John Denham
Andrew Stunell
I thank my hon. Friend, who I know has done a lot of work in looking at the administrative costs of the process. One of the things that we will be examining closely is how those costs can be reduced and how local authorities can have more control over the process.
Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen) (Lab)
The hon. Member for Burnley (Gordon Birtwistle) raises an important question, but what is the Minister’s answer to the current Lib Dem leader of Burnley council, who has said of this Government’s financial settlement:
“We are a deprived borough but once again we are suffering. I am disappointed and sick of us being kicked by budget cuts in Burnley”?
Is it not the case that the Minister has ensured that it is the poorest and most deprived councils in this country that are suffering the most?