HC Deb 02 February 1993 vol 218 cc91-2W
Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from councils in Oxfordshire concerning disparities in the proportion of local authority budgets funded by Government grant; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Robin Squire

Neither of the representations which I received from councils in Oxfordshire addressed the question of disparities in the proportion of local authority budgets funded by Government grant.

Mr. Barry Field

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the outcome of the consultation on the local government finance settlement for 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Robin Squire

The information is as follows:

Mr. Redwood

[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1993, column 854]: I regret that the tax base information listed in the exemplifications for Manchester, Stockport, Trafford, Salford, Barnsley, Wakefield, Crawley, Tandridge, Bolsover and Ashfield does not properly reflect boundary changes. Surrey, West Sussex, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire county councils are also affected. There are consequent changes in the authorities' revenue support grant entitlements and, because the tax base is used to apportion certain levies, in the authorities' standard spending assessments. In most cases the changes are not significant. I shall publish revised figures as soon as possible. My Department has today written to the authorities affected explaining the position to them.