Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ben Bradshaw and Oliver Letwin

Wednesday 19th January 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Letwin]

If the Speaker will permit a little essay, I would say two things in response to the hon. Lady’s important question. First, this is not all about money, in any dimension. The Localism Bill that we are bringing before the House has a huge effect on building social capital, and it does it by empowering people to make decisions about really important things such as their neighbourhood planning. That has nothing to do with saving money and everything to do with building social capital and empowering people.

Secondly, I fear that the hon. Lady shares the error that many of her colleagues have exhibited in thinking that the issue is one of services versus money. We are actually trying to find ways of getting more for less, and we believe that the innovation, enterprise, intelligence and social capital in the voluntary sector will enable us to do that.

[Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab)]

6. What savings have been achieved under the Government's programme of rationalisation and abolition of public bodies to date.