Question To Deputy Prime Minister

November 8th 2004

Sir Stuart Bell (Middlesbrough) (Lab):

The House will welcome the statement by the Deputy Prime Minister that there will be a continuing agenda of reform and devolution for local government. He referred to powers that we have given back to local authorities to promote the well-being of their communities.

Does he recall his visit to Middlesbrough with the Prime Minister, when he saw a community in action at a community council, where the people told him that those powers had given power back to the people, and that their community had been enormously improved as a result? Will he reiterate that there will be a continuing decentralisation and devolution of those powers to local communities so that they can all benefit from the actions of a Labour Government?