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ANALYSIS OF CONSULTATION RESPONSES
How many responses were there?
Who responded and can I see the responses?
How is this analysis structured?
Health warnings on interpreting the analysis
When will the White Paper be published?
When will these changes be implemented?
I would like to see:
HOW MANY RESPONSES WERE THERE?
A total of 16,321 responses were received in sufficient time to be analysed. 14,402 of these were part of a campaign by the Fair Education Funding Forum (f40). 1,107 responses commented on a range of proposals for reforming local government finance and a further 812 responses specifically focused on proposals to improve education funding.
See details of f40 campaign responses
See responses on education issues
WHO RESPONDED and CAN I SEE THE RESPONSES?
A list of the individuals and organisations that responded to the Green Paper is available. It excludes the 14,402 responses that were part of the F40 campaign. It also excludes any respondents who asked for their responses to be treated confidentially.
All the non-confidential responses are available for public access. They will be stored in the DTLR library in central London for six months from March 2001 and you are welcome to browse through them. Please telephone the library enquiry line on 020 7944 3039 to arrange a visit.
If you want to see a particular response, we suggest that you first check that it is on the list. This is because we cannot publish some e-mailed responses as they had confidentiality clauses automatically attached.
HOW WAS THIS ANALYSIS COMPLETED?
Most of the analysis was completed within DTLR, by officials who work in the policy area on which views were invited. Responses on education funding were analysed by DfEE's consultation unit.
Analysis was tailored to best fit with the question asked and the structure of responses on each topic. So the layout or coverage of the analysis will not be the same for each question.
We have aimed to give you a brief factual summary of responses to the issues on which we invited views. This is usually provided by tables showing the balance of views on an issue, and/or the comments which were most frequently made. Example quotes are given for most questions. As there are many types of stakeholders - ratepayers, schools, public, local authorities and so on - in local government finance, we have attempted to give a meaningful breakdown of how each group responded on issues.
HEALTH WARNINGS ON INTERPRETING THE ANALYSIS
With such a huge response to this consultation exercise, it is quite likely that comments made by only a small proportion of respondents will not appear in this summary. This is particularly so if the comments were not about an issue on which we invited views. But this does not mean that your comments went unnoticed. Comments on each aspect of local government finance were flagged up for the policy officer responsible, who will draw on it in advising Ministers as policy develops. In line with the Government's Code of Practice on Written Consultation, responses were looked at carefully to see if they suggested innovative solutions, or provided new evidence of how the proposed changes would benefit or harm a group of stakeholders.
Throughout this analysis, percentages represent the share of those responses that comment on a particular issue, rather than the share of all responses. Some percentages may add to more than a hundred, as respondents may have made a number of comments on one issue.
A selection of views and/or quotes is included for most questions. These should give readers a feel for the range of views expressed. They are not intended to represent the Department's view on the most important responses.
WHEN WILL THE WHITE PAPER BE PUBLISHED?
The Government expects to publish a White Paper setting out decisions on reforming local government finance later this year.WHEN WILL THESE CHANGES BE IMPLEMENTED
Some of the reforms proposed in the paper will require primary legislation. Once the White Paper is published the case for securing legislation will have to be assessed alongside the Government's other legislative priorities. Legislation in 2001/02 could mean that some reforms could begin in 2002/03. However some changes would not require legislation and could be introduced earlier, and others might take longer to allow local authorities and their partner organisations sufficient preparation time.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions or feedback on this summary of green paper responses, please contact Kate Cassidy on 020 7944 4056 or email lgfinance_greenpaper@detr.gov.uk.
If your question relates to education funding you should contact Joe Crilly at DfEE, telephone 020 7925 6081, email EducationFunding.STRATEGYGROUP@dfee.gov.uk.
Queries on non-domestic rates can be emailed to ndr@detr.gov.uk
OTHER WEBSITES OF INTEREST
Published 5 March 2001
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