But Mr Johnson took the unprecedented step of directing it to move towards a consultation on cost-cutting measures.

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Mr Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, said the committee had raised "a number of serious criticisms - not least on scope, proportionality, cost, checks and balances, and the need for much wider consultation".

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Since then, the government has worked with its private partners to review and improve the service through additional public consultation and surveys from users, resulting in adaptable, more cost effective coverage.

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And yet, it isn't clear whether the cost of staging, which can range from a couple of hundred dollars for a consultation to several thousand dollars for a complete makeover, is justified.

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