10/12/14
Questions to Minister for Public Services
Spokespersons Questions
14:27
Janet Finch-Saunders
Thank you. Minister, just two weeks ago, you told the BBC’s ‘Sunday Politics Wales’ programme that there are senior members of the Labour Party who would like to see just six local authorities across Wales. In the interests of honesty and transparency, and, of course, democratic accountability, would you like to tell the Chamber who they are?
14:28
Leighton Andrews
There are several Members who hold that view. [Laughter.]
14:28
Janet Finch-Saunders
Well, the fact that you will not disclose those names leads me to believe that there is probably only one senior member of the Labour Party who thinks that, and that is you—[Laughter.]—unless of course you wish to say otherwise. Was this not a veiled and failed attempt to use the stick approach to force some of those authorities that are not entirely convinced by your voluntary merger process to come forward before your required deadlines?
14:28
Leighton Andrews
Well, it is nearly Christmas and I think that she should be rather more charitable in her interpretation. I take the view that there are many senior members in my party and that many of them have the view that I expressed.
14:29
Janet Finch-Saunders
Okay. Minister, the summary of consultation responses to your White Paper, ‘Reforming Local Government’, states that many respondents were clear that effective engagement to successfully deliver these reforms would require the Welsh Government to clearly outline its intentions for reform, seek the opinion and views of local government and, of course, more importantly our residents on such proposals and, also importantly, to take account of those views when making decisions. What plans have you in place and when do you intend to do this?
14:29
Leighton Andrews
Well, may I say that I was very disappointed that half of all principal local authorities in Wales did not express a view on the White Paper to contribute to shaping the future of local government? I think that they might have contributed to an informed conversation, but that is a matter, of course, for them. As I have already said, we will be taking forward a further White Paper, on the future of local government, in the new year.