Oral Answers to Questions

George Hollingbery Excerpts

Monday 28th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I am greatly obliged to the Minister. I call George Hollingbery.

[George Hollingbery (Meon Valley) (Con)]

7. What expressions of interest he has received from local authorities outside the areas of the family support pilots in the creation of community budget schemes.

[The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Eric Pickles)]

Authorities in many of the 16 first-phase areas, and in a number of other places, are interested in developing community budgets in relation to a variety of local priorities, and we are discussing the possibilities with a range of Departments. The number of areas involved is constantly evolving.

[George Hollingbery]

May I press the Secretary of State a little further? Given the demonstrable advantages of community budgeting—value for money, local delivery, and bringing people closer to the political process—what further action is the Department taking to increase the number of projects?