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Local and Regional Government

: Again, I thank the hon. Gentleman. As I have told many conferences of local authority leaders in recent weeks and months, the introduction of local area agreements and the pooling and aligning of Government central funds at local level, with local authorities acting as first among equals in respect of other public sector agencies, are some of the most significant acts of devolution in this country for many a year. I therefore reject the notion that this is a centralising Government and that we are implementing a stealth policy of regionalisation. In fact, as our manifesto declared, and as can be seen from the freedoms and flexibilities, local area agreements and other policy measures that we have introduced, our policy is one not only of decentralisation of function, but of devolution. Let me take the example of the licensing law. The licensing law is an act of devolution; it passes powers to local authorities, although one would not know that. On the point about the new burdens, the Government are committed to dealing with that. The Local Government Association says that there are £72 million of extra costs, but I have not had one letter pointing out the savings that will be made through that act of devolution.