Debate on balance of power between central and local government
11 December 2009 (updated on 22 April 2010)
Dr Phyllis Starkey, Chairman of the Communities and Local Government Committee, opened a debate in the Commons on the balance of power between local and central government, which discussed the key findings set out in the Committee's report earlier this year and the Government response. Barbara Follett, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, responded to the debate.
- Video and Audio: Central and Local Government
- Commons Hansard: Central and Local Government
- Report: The Balance of Power: Central and Local Government
- Government response: The Balance of Power: Central and Local Government (PDF)
- Communities and Local Government Committee
The debate was held on what is called an estimates day. Because all public spending has to be approved by Parliament, three such days are set aside each year to do this - known as estimates days. But in practice, they are often used for debating select committee reports, chosen by Parliament's Liaison Committee.