Economy: Spending Cuts

Lord Ashley of Stoke Excerpts

Wednesday 6th October 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Sassoon]

Government departments will of course fully comply with their obligations, which are to have due regard of the impact of their policies and of the way in which they deliver their services. That implies an ongoing responsibility.

[Lord Ashley of Stoke]

My Lords, there seems to be little point in assessing the value and impact of the cuts if the cuts have not been made. Will the Government make a further announcement after the cuts, so that the impact can be accurately assessed?

[Lord Sassoon]

I assure noble Lords that the impact will be taken fully into account in accordance with the statutory provisions. The assurance is there that government departments will indeed have made the assessment fully by the time that any spending proposals come forward, whether in the spending review or in any other context.