To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) timetable and (b) remit is of Sir Michael Bichard’s review of local public services as part of the Government’s operational efficiency programme. (262654)

Sir Michael Bichard will be reporting alongside Budget 2009 as part of the operational efficiency programme.

Sir Michael Bichard is leading the local incentives and empowerment work-strand of the operational efficiency programme, the remit of which was set out as part of the OEP launch prospectus, published in July 2008.