§ 8. Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the standard spending assessment for the city of York.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe standard spending assessment for the city of York for 1993–94 is £11.066 million. This represents an increase of 2.1 per cent. on the comparable figure for 1992–93, which is close to the average for all shire districts.
§ Mr. BayleyDoes the Minister accept that the increase in SSA for York is based on the increase in population, which the census revealed, of 2.1 per cent., leaving 0 per cent.—not even the rate of inflation—for services? Does he accept that if York city council even spent up to the capping limit, it would have to cut its services by £1.9 million? District councils as well as councils in metropolitan areas are being knocked for six by spending cuts, in total defiance of what the Government said in their election manifesto—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I have already appealed for brisk questions and brisk answers. I find it very disappointing when my pleas, in order to be helpful to hon. Members, are ignored in this way. Will the hon. Gentleman please put his point directly now?
§ Mr. BayleyHow does the Minister justify such cuts to my city council?
§ Mr. SquireI have already explained that the increase for York council was roughly the same as the average for shire district councils. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman welcomes the fact that the assessment reflects the current population and thus ensures that the council gets more money. Let me be clear. York's expenditure in the current year is some £16.2 million, which is £5.4 million more than the SSA—in other words, it is using reserves. In contrast, last year–1990–91—expenditure was £1.3 million less than the SSA. The hon. Gentleman must look closely to the council to behave more responsibly.