Mr. Robert HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria he used in allocating the capital spending of Aberdeen city district council for the forthcoming financial year; and if he will review the position in the light of representations received.
§ Mr. LangThe allocation of resources for capital expenditure by local authorities, including Aberdeen city district council is determined, within the resources available, on the basis of their relative needs. In the light of the financial plans they submit each year, the relative needs of authorities are assessed taking account of a number of factors, including the capital costs of individual projects, their current expenditure consequences, the86W previous spending patterns and performance of the authorities and their forecasts of capital receipts. Account is also taken of the provisional allocations previously issued; it is, in general likely to be disruptive to depart very far from them but there can often be a need to adjust them to reflect particular changes in circumstances.
The resources available for distribution as capital allocations for 1988–89 are finite. They were allocated in full with the Scottish Office finance division letter of 22 February 1988.