Local Works calls on the new coalition govnerment to 'show us the money!'

Mon 28th June 2010

Please respond to this government consultation on a crucial part of the Sustainable Communities Act

Local Works is calling on the government to fulfil its promise to “open the books” and publish full Local Spending Reports under the Sustainable Communities Act. The original intention of the Act was that a full breakdown by local authority area would be done by the government. This would show all government spending, including money spent by central government and Quangos, departments and agencies. However, thus far only a small fraction of this data has been published.

The next set of Local Spending Reports are due to be published at the end of the Summer and a government consultation is underway as to what should be included in these reports. In the consultation, it is proposed that vast amounts of information will still be withheld. This is not good enough! There are an estimated 1,162 Quangos operating in this country, spending £64 billion of your money. With spending cuts firmly on the agenda, there has never been a more urgent need to see how government is spending your money and to have a say on what it is being spent on.

The new Coalition Government has promised to “implement the Sustainable Communities Act, so that citizens know how taxpayers’ money is spent in their area and have a greater say over how it is spent.” We ask you to please respond to the consultation, urging Government to fulfil this promise and publish full Local Spending Reports, covering all central government agencies and quangos. You can view our full response to the consultation here.

Here is a response you can use or adapt for your own purposes.

Please note the closing date for responses is 16th July 2010.
You can respond by e-mail to LSRconsultation@communities.gsi.gov.uk

It is important government receives the message that you really do want to see how your taxpayers’ money is being spent. Thanks for your help.